“Up North ...”The realities of doing business in Northern

Ireland10.09.2014

Simon Devlin

Perceptions of Northern Ireland...from a Southern perspective

Population of 1.8 million people, 33% of whom live in the Greater Belfast area.

Only 1.25 hours drive from Dublin to Belfast and 3.5 hours from Cork / Galway.

NI economy emerged from recession in June 2013 ...steady growth since then: Unemployment falling. Consumer confidence rising. Significant FDI successes recently. Crime statistics improving.

Lies, damned lies and statistics

Big growth in South to North sales over recent years - €1.185 billion during 2013.

Key areas of opportunity for Irish companies in NI are: Food. Engineering. Construction products / services. Creative industries / digital sector. Recycling and renewables.

Many Irish SMEs / micro enterprises now selling very effectively into the NI market.

Lies, damned lies and statistics [Cont’d]

So why would you consider NI as a potential target market?

Ideal starter “export” market.

Can provide a foothold in the UK market.

Same island / easy access.

Recovering economy ...with a very strong public sector.

Support to explore

business opportunities

in NI ...

We are the only organisation which has

been tasked by both Governments to

boost North/South economic co-operation

for the mutual benefit of Northern Ireland

and Ireland.

We support SMEs across the island to

identify and develop North/South trade

and innovation opportunities. We do this

through:

Business programmes

Research & statistics

Networks and partnerships

Who we are& what we do.

Our range of cross-border business initiatives offer practical funding, information, advice and support to help SMEs.

At a glance business support

Sales & Marketing

n Sales and marketing support - Acumen

n Sales development support for small business - Elevate

n Tender workshops, training and mentoring - Go-2-Tender

n Meet the Buyer events

n Trade accelerator voucher scheme for cross-border business advice on legal, financial and regulation issues

Innovation & Collaboration

n Company-graduate-academic partnership - Fusion

n Business transformation and strategic planning - Challenge

n Horizon 2020 supports - voucher scheme and information service

n Innovation events, workshops and masterclasses - All Island Innovation Programme

Equity Finance

n All-island Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition

n Business Angel Networks and Syndicate groups

n Equity advisory service - one to one advice from our equity expert

n Venture Capital Conference annual event

n Business plan workshops, guides and events

n Regional Equity Advisory clinics

n Entrepreneurship master classes

Elevate is aimed at businesses employing less than 10 people.Cross

border sales

Elevate • Whole rationale for Elevate is to help small businesses to “dip their toes in the water” in NI.

• Up to €5,900 worth of advice and assistance from an experienced market expert is available – NO CHARGE to successful applicants.

• Visit www.intertradeireland.com/elevate

Support options

1. Employ a full-time salesperson

Up to €18,750 is available to hire a dedicated salesperson for 12 months that is based inyour target market and responsible for increasing sales in that region - North or South

2. Hire a part-time salesperson

Up to €10,000 available to hire a prospector who can represent your company in your target market for 12 months

3. Employ a high-calibre sales & marketing graduate

Up to €17,190 towards the employment costs of taking on a graduate to develop a strategicsales and marketing approach in NI/IRE

Visit: www. intertradeireland.com/acumen

Cross

border sales

Acumen

Contact us….simon@itiacumen.comwww.intertradeireland.comFollow us on FacebookJoin the conversation on twitter