Brexit Advice, Guidance & Financial Supports

In an important week for Brexit negotiations, we have compiled a number of useful links for you to help get your business Brexit ready and listed important sources of advice, guidance and financial supports.

Enterprise Ireland’s Readiness Checker

The Brexit Readiness Checker provides businesses with a quick and accessible way to check their readiness and gives guidance on what steps to take, based on their circumstances.

Enterprise Ireland’s Brexit Webinars

Access recordings of a series of Brexit Webinars conducted by Enterprise Ireland with information and key tips that will help your business mitigate some of the risks of Brexit.

Enterprise Ireland’s Currency Impact Calculator

The Brexit Currency Impact Calculator tool from Enterprise Ireland can help you estimate the impact that changes in exchange rates would have on the profitability of your business. For more information on managing currency exposure, visit Enterprise Ireland’s guidance and tools for managing currency exposure.

Enterprise Ireland’s Brexit Scorecard

Enterprise Ireland has developed the Brexit Scorecard ,a free online tool, to help stimulate thinking about the ways your business may be impacted and to self-assess your
level of preparedness.

Bord Bia’s Brexit Hub and DAFM

Bord Bia’s Brexit Hub offers advice to the food and drink sectors. It is designed to help businesses assess and prepare for Brexit challenges and provides information on international market diversification opportunities.

Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine

The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine’s Brexit information for the agri-food sector covers a range of sector-specific trade issues. The Department also provides webinars and ‘how to’ guide including guidance on the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES).

Fáilte Ireland’s Brexit Response Programme

If you work in tourism and hospitality, Fáilte Ireland’s Brexit Response Programme is designed to help Irish tourism businesses spread the risk by diversifying their source markets and to enhance their skill capabilities across a wide range of business functions. Fáilte Ireland offers a suite of supports including an online knowledge hub and a Brexit Readiness Check to assess risks and to respond to an evolving business environment.

Local Enterprise Offices Brexit Mentor Programme

Local Enterprise Offices are running a Brexit Mentor Programme to support businesses in identifying key Brexit risks and developing robust strategies to address potential problems and to capitalise on opportunities.

InterTradeIreland’s Brexit Advisory Service

InterTradeIreland provides a Brexit Advisory Service to provide practical advice and information on Brexit related issues including a tariff checker showing potential tariffs on products.

IDA Ireland Brexit Advice

IDA Ireland offers practical assistance, such as information and advice on Brexit risks and opportunities, and financial assistance across R&D, training, employment and capital investment.

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Guidance

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) provides information and guidance relating to Brexit and your business.

Preparing for new Customs Arrangements

In addition to the advice about changes in customs arrangements which is offered through Bord Bia, Skillnet Ireland, InterTrade Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, information relating to Customs formalities is available on the Revenue website.

Preparing for changes in Legislation and Standards

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is a Competent Authority for a range of EU Regulations and Directives which govern the import, use and placing on the market of a range of goods. It provides advice to Irish companies and SMEs on meeting legislative obligations.

Irish National Accreditation Board

The Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) can offer advice on accreditation matters and conformity assessment bodies required under European legislation.

National Standards Authority of Ireland

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) provides advice on how best to ensure businesses are certified to appropriate standards to access markets.

Keeping informed on Brexit

Visit gov.ie/brexit for updates from Government on Brexit and its impacts.

Advice to businesses from European Institutions

Consult the European Commission’s website to review sector-specific stakeholder preparedness notices and to find other updates on Brexit preparedness from the Commission.

Skills and Training

In addition to advice and guidance, there is a range of supports available for training and upskilling staff within your business: Supports to get your business Brexit Ready:

Upskilling.

Financial Supports

Enterprise Ireland’s Be Prepared Grant

Enterprise Ireland offers up to €5,000 tor businesses that need external support in planning for Brexit through its Be Prepared Grant.

Enterprise Ireland’s Ready for Customs Grant

The Enterprise Ireland Ready for Customs grant provides up to €9,000 per eligible employee hired or redeployed within a business to a position dedicated to custom matters.

Enterprise Ireland’s Market Discovery Fund

Enterprise Ireland through its EI Market Discovery Fund, supports businesses seeking to develop a strategy for entry into new markets. Related funding opportunities from Enterprise Ireland include the Agile Innovation Fund and the Operational Excellence Offer.

Intertrade Ireland

InterTradeIreland’s Brexit Planning Voucher

InterTradeIreland offers a Brexit Planning Voucher to enable SMEs to get professional advice on Brexit, including likely tariffs, currency management, regulatory and customs issues and movement of labour, goods and services.

Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland

Brexit Loan Scheme

Through the Brexit Loan Scheme the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) makes lending available to eligible businesses with up to 499 employees that are exposed to Brexit.

Future Growth Loan Scheme

The SBCI’s Future Growth Loan Scheme has been expanded and is open to eligible Irish businesses, to support strategic, long-term investment, for future sustainability and growth. This can help finance investments made necessary by Brexit.

Local Enterprise Offices

Technical Assistance for Micro-Exporters (TAME)

The Local Enterprise Offices offer Technical Assistance for Micro-Exporters (TAME). This provides financial assistance to support qualifying businesses in acquiring the technical capability to develop new export market opportunities.

Trading Online Voucher Scheme

The Local Enterprise Offices can offer match-funding up to €2,500 in the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, which helps small businesses to trade more online.

Local Enterprise Offices Grants

For qualifying companies Local Enterprise Offices can offer Priming, Business Expansion, and Feasibility Study grants to help manage Brexit responses.

Microfinance Ireland

Microfinance Loans

Microenterprises can access loans of up to €25,000 from Microfinance Ireland through Local Enterprise Offices or directly through Microfinance Ireland.