Small business advice programme helps almost 250 firms

A programme set up to help small businesses has helped nearly 250 firms since its inception 18 months ago, it has been revealed.

Latest figures from the Small Business Advice programme show that 240 SMEs in Cork, the south east and the mid west have applied for and benefitted from the programme.

Following an initial six month pilot in Cork, the programme was rolled out to the south east to facilitate applications from companies in Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary in May 2010. It expanded to the mid west to cover companies from Limerick, North Tipperary and Clare in October 2010.

The programme, which is sponsored by Bord Gáis Eireann and supported by Plato, was set up to come to the aid of struggling small businesses and aims to give them the help they need to ride out the recession through partnering them with volunteer advisors.

“The common theme coming across from the people seeking assistance is that they have nowhere else to go," Small Business Advice Project Manager John McSweeney said.

"These are sole traders, small retailers and service providers who are not members of any representative organisations.

“The majority of business we help have less than six persons employed and a turnover of less than €500,000 per annum.

Small business owners can apply for advice from the programme by logging on to www.smallbusinessadvice.ie or calling LoCall number 1850 763763.