Pictured at the launch with Minister Richard Bruton (right) and Minister John Perry (2nd from left) were Colm MacFhionnlaoich, Enterprise Ireland Manager, Get Export Ready (left) and Tom Hayes, Enterprise Ireland Head of Micro Enterprise and Small Business.

Enterprise Ireland has established a new Micro Enterprise and Small Business Division to spearhead the delivery of an enhanced national enterprise support model to entrepreneurs and small businesses in 2013.  This is a key part of the Government’s plans to restructure the support infrastructure for small businesses and represents delivery of a key action under the Action Plan for Jobs 2012. The announcement was made by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD and the Minister of State for Small Business John Perry TD.

The Micro Enterprise and Small Business Division will develop a world-class Centre of Excellence providing best-in-class support to entrepreneurs and small business in the execution of a national micro enterprise policy. The new business support model will also see the establishment next year of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in the local authority network and these new offices will deliver services and support to the micro and small business sectors on behalf of Enterprise Ireland.

The Centre of Excellence will:

• Operate Service Level Agreements between Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities
• Drive progression of high potential companies from the LEO network to Enterprise Ireland
• Develop and train LEO staff to ensure that core enterprise support skills are maintained and enhanced
• Establish a new online support system which will respond to the needs of all entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises throughout the country

Making the announcement Minister Bruton said: ‘Micro and small businesses are the engine of the Irish economy, and employ over 650,000 people. If we are going to create the jobs and growth we need we must provide better supports to this sector so that more of these businesses can start-up, grow, export, and create the jobs we need. That is why as part of the Action Plan for Jobs we have introduced a range of new measures aimed at micro and small businesses, including the €90million microfinance scheme and the €450million credit guarantee scheme.

‘A key part of this plan is ensuring that micro and small businesses throughout the country have access to the best possible range of supports at all stages of their developments. Today’s announcement represents the latest stage in the delivery of that plan. The creation of a Centre of Excellence in Enterprise Ireland will drive the delivery of best practice supports across the country, ensure that entrepreneurs and small business people have access to the supports they need so that they can expand, grow and create the jobs we need”.