In this issue
Brexit - now's the time to Plan, Act and Engage
Co-Innovate Programme launched
Latest Survey reveals local companies not taking advantage of stable environment to plan for potential Brexit impacts
The Talent Pipeline
Predict Conference - Europe’s Leading Data Conference 3rd October RDS Dublin
Colleges NI Online Survey
Regen Waste Management Ltd Newry and McAree Engineering Co Monaghan share their experiences of Brexit
Business Planning workshops - Various dates and locations
Go-2-Tender Workshops Dublin 14th and 28th September 2017
InterTradeIreland Monthly Regional Equity Advisory Clinic Belfast 21st Sept
10 Tips for Effective Communication
Disclaimer
Upcoming Events
Business Planning workshops - Various dates and locations
Register now
Go-2-Tender Workshops Dublin 14th and 28th September 2017
 

Go-2-Tender gives SMEs the confidence, knowledge and practical skills to tender successfully for public sector contracts in their own jurisdiction or on a cross-border basis.

The workshops are geared towards SMEs who are new to tendering or who want to improve their basic tendering skills.  The course consists of a two day workshop and a half day of mentoring.

Register now
InterTradeIreland Monthly Regional Equity Advisory Clinic Belfast 21st Sept
 
A monthly regional clinic aimed at helping companies seeking equity investment.
Register now
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Latest Survey reveals local companies not taking advantage of stable environment to plan for potential Brexit impacts

Firms seeking Brexit guidance

Firms are now starting to seek more guidance on Brexit matters with more than a third of businesses with cross-border sales (36 per cent) saying they would welcome additional one-to-one support and a quarter of exporters (24 per cent) wanting additional information on tariffs or licensing (25 per cent).

 

Economy steady despite concerns

56 per cent of firms are reporting they are stable, the highest figure since the Quarterly Business Monitor started to ask businesses about their stability and growth in 2011.  Coupled with the fact that 82 per cent of firms across the island are working at close to capacity, the Business Monitor reveals remarkable steadiness in the economy with few signs yet of direct negative impacts from the prevailing uncertainty.  Despite concerns around Brexit, the vast majority (76 per cent) of firms are reporting any impact as neutral.

 

Employment and sales growth for companies trading across the border

Further signs of solidity are evident with companies which trade cross-border experiencing growth in both employment numbers (17 per cent of firms) and sales (50 per cent of firms).  This may provide a firm foundation as companies move into potentially challenging times.

 

Stability gives time and space to plan

The stability is encouraging and it’s essential that firms take advantage of this to plan their next steps.  A steady environment can provide ‘thinking time’ and it’s important businesses use this opportunity to begin to research, compile and initiate plans that will ensure they remain resilient beyond Brexit.   

 

InterTradeIreland Brexit Advisory Service

InterTradeIreland has launched a Brexit Advisory Service where potential and current cross-border businesses can receive one-to-one Brexit advice and we want to encourage as many firms as possible to take advantage of our insights and expertise.

Unique position of InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland is in a unique influencing and information-gathering position, working with governments on both sides of the border, using our extensive knowledge to advocate on behalf of SMEs.  As a result, our Brexit Advisory Service is tailored to offer key advice to local organisations. This includes 100% financial support up to £2000 towards expert advice in relation to specific issues such as movement of labour, goods, services and currency management.

 

Planning now can help to bring future stability

InterTradeIreland’s message is clear: while we recognise the pressures facing small businesses, there is, nevertheless, a window of opportunity.  This must be grasped to prepare for the challenges and indeed the opportunities that will be presented by any new cross-border trade arrangements which may emerge over the coming years.  Every firm operating on a cross-border basis or with ambitions to grow, should plan, act and engage today – this is the key to ongoing stability and success.

 

InterTradeIreland Business Monitor

InterTradeIreland’s quarterly Business Monitor survey is the largest and most comprehensive business survey on the island and is based on the views of more than 750 business managers across Northern Ireland and Ireland since 2008. The Business Monitor differs from other surveys in that it is seen to be the ‘voice of local businesses’ feeding directly from telephone interviews conducted with firms of all sizes from across a range of sectors to track all-island economic indicators such as sales, employment, business outlook and other specific topical research areas on a quarter by quarter basis. 

A copy of the 2017 Q2 InterTradeIreland Business Monitor Executive Summary can be viewed here.

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