Brexit roadshow will map out the future for Cork businesses
ENTERPRISE IRELAND URGING CORK COMPANIES TO ‘PREPARE FOR BREXIT’
WHAT will be the implications of Britain’s decision to leave the EU for Irish businesses and how will small and medium enterprises prepare for Brexit?
These will be among the topics addressed under the umbrella of Enterprise Ireland’s ‘Prepare for Brexit’ initiative, which will see a series of roadshows take part across the country over the coming weeks featuring presentations by a number of expert speakers.
The first of these will take place in Cork at the Maryborough House Hotel in Douglas from 8am to 10.30am on Wednesday, May 3.
The event has been designed to encourage SME’s to prepare for a hard Brexit, offering a platform for robust discussion, information sharing, and practical advise around the key issues facing Irish companies.
Moderated by broadcaster Jonathan Healy, the Cork roadshow will feature representatives from SME’s, large companies and innovative start-ups as well as members of Enterprise Ireland’s Global Team and Brexit Unit.
Central to the event will be Enterprise Ireland’s ‘Brexit SME Scorecard’, a new interactive online questionnaire available at www.prepareforbrexit.ie, that can be used by Irish companies to self-asses their exposure to Brexit.
It addresses users exposure to Brexit on six business pillars: strategy, operations, innovation, sales and marketing, finance and people management, producing an individualised scorecard based on the answers provided. This in turn generates a detailed report containing suggested actions, highlighting available resources and providing information on forthcoming Brexit focussed events.
Enterprise Ireland regional director Martin Corkery said the report would provide a handy starting point for SME management teams looking to develop an action plan to “help mitigate risks and leverage opportunities which may arise from Brexit”.
He said that given Britain’s position as Ireland main trading partner, it was important that Irish businesses strengthen their presence in the UK, while at the same time preparing to diversify into new international markets.
“As a next step on the road to preparing for Brexit, the Cork roadshow will provide local businesses with the opportunity to hear first hand how other companies, of all sizes, are preparing for Brexit,” said Mr Corkery.
“Enterprise Ireland’s Global Team and Brexit Unit will give insights into the challenges and opportunities Brexit presents, and the practical supports that are available to companies,” he added.
Mr Corkery said that Enterprise Ireland client companies that utilise the Brexit scorecard would be able to engage with the agency’s experts both domestically and through their overseas offices to access global markets.
“Enterprise Ireland will also provide funding up to the value of €5,000 to exporting clients to support the development of a business action plan. Enterprise Ireland will then work with these companies on a one-to-one basis to support the implementation of the plan,” he added.
The ‘Prepare For Brexit’ roadshow is free of charge but pre-registration is essential at BrexitUnit@enterprise-ireland. com