Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2017
216. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 345 of 26 July 2017, if he will provide a copy of the most recent year end report to his Department in respect of funding provided to Enterprise Ireland outlining its activities and utilisation of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39108/17]
View answerDuring 2016 Enterprise Ireland (EI) spent €7.8 million on training activities during 2016. The National Training Fund contribution to funding these activities was €3.5 million with the balance of support coming from exchequer funding from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. Enterprise Ireland provides management development and training supports for Irish enterprise.
The end of year reports received for the supported programmes are listed in the following table.
|
Outline - CMD Programmes 2016 |
Number attendees |
Target Audience |
Training Provided |
Programme outputs |
|
LEADERSHIP 4 GROWTH Leadership 4 Growth was designed for CEO's of Enterprise Ireland client companies to address key barriers to scale by developing and enhancing the leadership ambition and mind-set of CEO's to help them to create companies that achieve dominant market positions. |
28 |
CEO's and their senior teams |
This development programme blends together leading international institutions (IMD, Switzerland - 2015) and also implements one to one leadership coaching, cohort networks of CEO's with locally based Business Advisers and VC's and practitioners from international business. |
The CEO's and their senior teams work through assignments in relation to the challenges and opportunities facing their companies. The programme has achieved significant results over the past ten years and a new programme is being rolled out in the coming months |
|
INNOVATION 4 GROWTH Innovation 4 Growth is specifically designed to meet the needs of ambitious and entrepreneurial Irish companies seeking to unlock opportunities in the marketplace |
57 Phase I / 27 Phase II |
Management Teams |
This development programme fast-tracks companies through an end-to-end innovation learning and practice journey. The programme supports the delivery for each participating company of one or more innovation initiatives. |
Programme participants are assigned a business adviser coach for the duration of the programme who supports the development of each company's innovative initiative from development though to execution. |
|
MANAGEMENT 4 GROWTH /PLATFORM 4 GROWTH Platform 4 Growth is a management development programme specifically to challenge SME's to scale and to support client companies that are serious about growing their business |
330 Individuals/110 Companies |
SME's and client companies who want to expand their business |
This development programme offers a combination of e-learning and face to face delivery through networking events. |
A flexible way for SME's to undertake capability development that meets their specific requirements at a given time |
|
HPSU Founders Forum (formally known as ACCELERATE) The HPSU Founders Forum is designed for High Potential Start-Up companies. HPSU's) Accelerate was launched in October 2015 and continuing through 2016 helps companies to focus on the execution of their business plan |
81 |
High Potential Start-Up companies (from a pipeline of high growth companies - HPSU's) |
This programme helps companies that are post investment HPSU's to accelerate their start-up and growth phases. |
Accelerate helps companies reach sales as quickly as possible. |
|
SPRINT One to one coaching is provided along with training to help companies to become investor ready |
50 |
High Potential Start-Up companies (from a pipeline of high growth companies - HPSU's) |
Designed for pre-investment HPSUS and piloted in September 2015 this programme helps companies to focus on their product market fit. |
Training helps companies to become investor ready. |
|
International Selling Programme The International Selling Programme is Enterprise Ireland's flagship programme designed to equip Irish companies with necessary tools to reach their export sales and potential in global markets |
165 |
Internationally focused SME's. Applicants should typically spend a minimum of 30% of time in a sales role and must be at the level of MD or CEO or alternatively - Sales, Commercial or Marketing Director or other director level. |
Companies develop an international growth plan aligned to overall business strategy and growth targets. Participants are also assigned a Business Adviser helping to implement programme learnings and to have an immediate impact on the participants' sales ability. |
This practical programme delivers a real and immediate impact on the company’s ability to access new markets and grow export sales practitioner who works as a Business Adviser |
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Excel at Export Selling (Short Programme < 100 hours) In parallel to the International Selling Programme and as a complementary offer, a series of workshops called Excel at Export Selling aims to rapidly embed into companies the proven tools of best international practice in selling. |
145 |
Client companies across all industry sectors who need to upskill for export growth. The Excel suite of one day workshops gives access to selling skills development in a practical and user friendly format. |
The Excel at Export Selling suite of programmes maintains a focus on the three fundamental building blocks of successful international selling: developing a compelling customer value proposition, following a systematic and repeatable sales process and executing a well defined route to market strategy. |
Each workshop is tailored to deal with the practical needs of the clients with various aspects of sales. Individual follow-up sessions with expert facilitators maximise the impact of the workshops and help companies implement learnings. |
|
Exploring Exporting (Short Programme < 100 hours) This is a series of workshops that focuses on helping first-time exporter companies to become export ready. |
57 companies and 82 attendees |
CEO/MD/Senior managers in client company SMEs that are looking to decide whether exporting is the right move for their business or not. Also includes LEO's |
Training modules include: conducting market research; defining of export value proposition; process of exporting |
Become export ready. Business mentors are available to work with the companies to identify any issues or barriers to becoming export ready. This builds confidence and capability for first time exporters as they enter new overseas markets. |
|
ACCESS SILICON VALLEY This programme consists of a three day Boot Camp followed by a ten day itinerary to the Silicon Valley |
35 |
CEOs / Founders / Management Teams from High Potential Start-up companies with a US focus and a live product or service / companies with an innovative product or services that wish to gain market entry to USA and are capable of creating at least 10 jobs and achieving €1M in sales within 3 - 5 years of start-up. |
Clients learn to develop their pitching and presentation skills during the Boot Camp. A ten day visit to the Silicon Valley is offered to successful client companies. During that visit there is one-to-one mentoring from industry relevant mentors. This programme takes place bi-annually. |
Clients develop market entry strategies relevant the "West Coast Marketplace" and learn about the differences involved in doing business in that region. |
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Graduates for International Growth (G4IG) |
18 |
Companies that wish to recruit a graduate - the graduate is focused on making a lasting impact in overseas markets. |
G4IG supports ambitious internationally trading companies by matching the skills of a graduate and providing the company with a structured means of acquiring new skills in international business. |
Graduates with potential will be the next generation of business development executives and are matched with ambitious internationally trading companies. |
|
Enterprise Ireland Mentor Network was established to help companies identify and solve obstacles to growth |
468 |
Client companies across all industry sectors who require tailored advice, guidance and support to help them accelerate growth and build management capability. |
Mentors are senior executives drawn from the private sector with a proven track record in business. |
Mentors act as a confidential sounding board to advise the company on key operational and strategic issues. The network is regularly refreshed with CEO's and executives with high levels of achievement in marketing, strategy, organisation development and R&D. |
Lean Transform - Part of the Lean Business Offer
Programme Description and Outline of Activities
The Lean transform programme is the third of a three part response offered to Enterprise Ireland clients in an effort to support their competitiveness building activities. The Lean programme trains management and staff in client companies to improve their capability and capacity to improve their operations. The offer is targeted to address all areas of operations from design through production to delivery and logistics. Client projects have improved operational performance across the key areas of their business, across all the key sectors represented by Enterprise Ireland Clients.
The supported activities relate to the training of management and staff and conclude formal training activities, best practice study activities, network engagement with other like-minded companies who are challenging to improve their competitiveness. Training is delivered by trainers who are registered on the Enterprise Ireland Directory of Lean Service Providers. Trainers have to meet defined criteria before they are registered on the Directory.
The IDA and Udaras na Gaeltachta have adopted the Lean Programme to support their clients on their competitiveness improvement journeys. Twenty of the LEO offices have adopted a Lean Start offer for their clients.
Participant Numbers, Target Audience Training Provided
To date 899 projects have been supported under the full Lean Business offer with 118 projects supported under the transform level support. The programme targets both management and staff and is focused on developing their capabilities to use and understand Lean tools and principles. The fundamental of the training provided is to give people the core tools and techniques of Lean to help them identify and address issues within their own processes. A list of the key elements of training provided is presented in the appendix.
Programme Outputs
The programme has proven effective based on analysis carried out by Technopolis for the DJEI. Improvements of 20% in productivity and 11% in employment, counterfactually measured against those who had not participated in the Lean programme have been identified by Technopolis.
Udaras Na Gaeltachrta and IDA report similar results to those achieved by Enterprise Ireland clients.
Appendix
Indicative training provided under Lean Transform Programme
- Introduction to Lean for Management and Staff– White belt/Yellow Belt training
- Lean Leadership - Strategy and Deployment
- Process Mapping/Value Stream Mapping
- Five S- Organisation and Order
- Practical Problem Solving
- Check Sheets
- Run Charts
- Visualisation
- Teams and Team Building
- Green Belt Training (Possible Black Belt Training) for key people
- Focus on environmental sustainability, possible appointment of Green champion, ISO 14000, ISO 50001
- Qualitative and Quantitative benchmarking exercise post approval by IC to provide solid basis for impact assessment.
e-Marketing Improvement Assignments
Programme description and outline of activities
Under the Business Process Improvement Grant, client companies can apply for grant support to undertake an e-Marketing Improvement Assignment. This support is designed to assist senior managers in client companies to maximise the opportunities presented by the Internet as a business development channel.
Information on participant numbers, target audience, training provided etc.
The programme was launched in May 2012 replacing the eBusiness Management Initiative which ran from 2006 to 2012. The e-Marketing Assignment support is targeted at manufacturing and International Services companies (excluding HPSU’s) and is focused on helping export-focused clients across all Industry sectors to exploit the Internet as a route to market. To date a total of 240 companies have been approved funding support totalling €4.5m. In 2016 a total 44 clients companies were approved support to the value of €0.9m.
Through the use of one-to-one training and action-based learning, consultants/ trainers will work with clients to plan and implement significant strategic e-marketing projects.
Programme outputs
The e-Marketing Improvement assignment is specifically designed to develop and enhance Client Company’s capability to use the internet as an effective channel for export business development. A typical assignment would strive to achieve the following outcomes;
- Strategic review of existing online activities and development of your company's future online strategy.
- Understanding international best practice, effective tools and strategies in the area of e-Marketing.
- Embedding e-marketing practices and skills in your company by developing the capabilities of your staff.
Clients who apply for support must complete an eMaturity questionnaire both pre and post assignment. These questionnaires are used to benchmark knowledge and capabilities achieved.
