A supportive business landscape helps create economic opportunity

Ireland has a highly developed business support landscape, from state assistance for start-ups and high-growth companies to a vibrant seed and venture capital sector.

It includes everything from Microfinance Ireland, which provides low-cost loans to those struggling to secure bank lending, to Acorns, a development programme for rurally based female entrepreneurs.

Recent years have seen the development of a national network of European Digital Innovation Hubs too, such CeADAR in Dublin and Entire in Cork, part of whose remit is to help support digital transformation in SMEs.

In addition, Science Foundation Ireland Research centres around the country, and technology transfer offices of universities, help businesses tap into scientific breakthroughs that can provide a commercial advantage.

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Skillnet Ireland provides training to help businesses boost the skills, abilities and productivity of their staff.

“From our point of view everything revolves around talent,” says Mark Jordan, chief strategy officer at Skillnet Ireland.

“We believe that mentoring leaders around all aspects of business, everything from financial management to best-practice human resources and talent strategies, are all key to success. That then trickles down from the top in terms of developing a talent culture within the organisation.”

There are more than 70 Skillnet Business Networks currently, made up of businesses within the same sector or region, facing similar business challenges that can be addressed through innovative talent development.

Skillnet Networks are based in all regions and most sectors, including ICT, retail, agri-food, medtech, technology, manufacturing, design, engineering, financial services, private healthcare, media, construction and many more.

Network managers work with business owners to develop bespoke upskilling solutions for their business and to provide relevant upskilling where and when its needed. All private sector businesses of any size, including sole traders, are eligible to join.

Jordan believes not enough small and medium-sized businesses are aware of the heavily subsidised training that is available to them in this way.

“That’s the challenge – how to reach companies that don’t engage. So we are taking down all the traditional barriers around such issues as time, providing own-paced learning, breaking down cost issue inhibitors, and demonstrating the benefits,” he says.

“When we talk to people we don’t lead with talent; we lead with the business’s commercial goals, their business plan and then ask if they have the talent they need to get them there.”

While companies are well attuned to the productivity benefits new technology brings with it, sometimes they forget a simple truth – they need staff who can use it.

“What they don’t want is a lag in the deployment of new technology because they don’t have the skills they need. Tech and talent go hand in hand,” says Jordan.

Private enterprise can also provide entrepreneurial assistance. For example, eBay Ireland supports Irish sellers to grow their business on its platform.

“At eBay our purpose is to create new economic opportunities for all,” says Colin McCallion, director of commercial operations at eBay.

He led the platform’s Seller Success Project, designed to help eBay sellers use the platform to its maximum potential. As part of that he developed a training plan including modules in sales-effectiveness training, platform-specific training and soft skills, which lead to better business outcomes.

The platform has developed a “very clear and supportive” new seller onboarding process that includes seller clinics and resources, he says.

Currently there are more than 1.9 billion listings on eBay, in 190 markets, with half of its sellers’ revenues coming from international trade.

“eBay enables cross-border operations, with 93 per cent of our small businesses on the eBay platform exporting to markets other than their own,” he says. “In Ireland over 90 per cent of sales are for export and we see that increasing.”

In September eBay organised its second annual Export Summit in Dublin. “Dublin plays a key role in eBay Europe and globally, as eBay’s European headquarters,” he explains. “Ireland is a gateway to Europe for businesses all over the world.”

The summit, which was organised in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, saw more than 160 sellers attend for tips and advice on growing their business.

“We are very proud of where ebay.ie is today,” says McCallion. “We grew listings by 33 per cent in 2023. That means many more local Irish small and medium-sized businesses engaging with buyers all around the world.”