Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
61. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the business supports in place for a personal services start-up hair and beauty other than the trading online voucher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27569/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Hair and Beauty sector plays a valuable role in our local economies, it makes a significant financial and employment contribution regionally, with a presence on high streets throughout Ireland.
The Local Enterprise Offices offer a broad range of training and development programmes to support entrepreneurs on their journey.
The Start Your Own Business (SYOB) programme guides clients through the various aspects of starting a business and business planning. The objective is to assist clients in assessing their business idea, its viability and to decide if they should proceed or take a step back. These Management Training and development programmes have been specifically tailored to help new business founders ' and these are now available through online platforms, making them more accessible than ever before.
The Local Enterprise Office Mentors can assist businesses owners in preparing loan applications to any financial institute but in particular to Micro-finance Ireland. Micro-finance Ireland offers support in the form of expansion loans of up to €25,000 to micro-enterprises looking to grow their business. Loans for commercially viable proposals can be used to help fund start-up costs, working capital or business expansion and by applying through their Local Enterprise Office, clients can avail of a 1% reduction in the interest rate charged. This loan package offers no fees, hidden costs and has fixed repayments over a maximum term of 5 years.
In March 2021, I launched the Local Enterprise Office “Green for Micro” programme which offers green transition advice and technical support to a wide range of micro-enterprises with 10 or fewer employees. This support is free of charge for eligible enterprises and represents the potential for increased efficiencies within companies that adopt these principles.
The recently launched Climate Toolkit 4 Business is an important resource for SMEs and micro enterprises. The Toolkit directs users to advice, grants and other resources available from the LEOs, EI, SEAI, Irish Water, EPA, IDA and others.
Further information on supports for SMEs can be found on my Department’s website at: enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/supports-for-smes/access-to-finance/.
