KILLYGORDON-BASED consultancy partners have created a one-stop-shop to help businesses avail of 100% government grants and support in response to the Covid-19 crisis.
Raleigh & Associates and Irwin Energy Engineering (IEE), both based at Oaktree Business Park, have been asked by government agencies to be part of a panel to roll out a number of supports.
They have dissected data from various locations, such as the, NSAI, HSE, Health and Safety Authority (HSA), IDA and Enterprise Ireland, and placed all business-relevant information into one location on www.covid-19supports.ie
The website includes free downloadable posters and advice documents that every business should use, as well as helpful video content.
Spokesman, Mr James Raleigh, explained that it is vital for every business to have detailed plans on how they can defend against a Covid-19 outbreak in their business and stop their business becoming a ‘cluster’. They will also help businesses plan for what to do in an exposure situation, and how to recover after an exposure.
“Every business large or small should avail of a Business Continuity Voucher as soon as possible,” Mr Raleigh stressed.
This voucher will allow your business to draft robust plans of action against Covid-19.
It is our opinion that grant support will be available, but businesses will have to demonstrate they are protecting their employees and customers as much as they can with detailed plans. The voucher will allow us to help businesses build these plans.”
He added that LEO clients will also avail of business continuity planning using this voucher and larger companies can avail of a Covid-19 Business Financial Planning Grant,
“The business continuity planning grant is also targeted at those manufacturing – or internationally traded services – companies that employ ten or more full-time employees.
“The 100% grant, worth up to €5,000 is designed to help companies to develop a robust financial plan, including the preparation of documentation required to support applications for external finance from banks and/or other finance providers, including Enterprise Ireland and Udaras,” Mr Raleigh explained.
James Raleigh
We see it as a two-step approach:
Avail of 100% funding through a business continuity voucher from your local LEO (Local Enterprise Office), Udaras or Enterprise Ireland office to create bespoke plans of action for how you will deal with Covid-19 in your business.
If you qualify then avail of the business financial planning grant:
“This will put a business in a prime position to avail of a number of financial supports. These include access to a €200m government package for enterprise supports, such as a Rescue and Restructuring Scheme available through Enterprise Ireland/Udaras for vulnerable but viable firms that need to restructure or transform their business. There could also be access to a separate €200m Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) Working Capital scheme for eligible businesses impacted by COVID-19. Loans of up to €1.5m will be available at reduced rates, with up to the first €500,000 unsecured.”
covid-19supports.ie
Mr Raleigh concluded that businesses need to ask themselves four important questions: Are you planning your defence, exposure and recovery against the effects of Covid-19? Are you placing your business in a position to be able to reopen after the lockdown? Have you developed a Business Continuity Plan? Are you putting your business in a position to maximise supports from government agencies?
“To help answer these questions, and make all of this easy for you, we have developed an online system that gives you clearly defined plans of action tailored to your business. We will help you develop a detailed plan for your defence, exposure and recovery from the crisis.”
For further information, log on to www.covid-19supports.ie
Killygordon Business Park
