Can SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) avail of supports such as grant aid etc?
Yes
These grants cover up to 95% of the cost of hiring experts to help you
Sport Centres
Joinery Workshops
Cold Stores
Golf Courses
Manufacturing
Food Processors
Data Centres
Hotels
Pig Farming
2020 has been a year of uncertainty for businesses with many taking this time to relook at their costs and in particular their energy expenses.
Energy is the leading cost in many businesses. Yet why is it that many want to reduce it but feel that the process of doing so is too much for them? Maybe you feel you don’t have the time to put into it
or feel like it is all too confusing. So, you carry on paying large energy bills. It does not have to be this way.
We understand that you think applying for a grant is a long, drawn-out, bureaucratic process that you feel isn’t worth the time. But that is where you are wrong. Right now, your competitors are availing of supports that are also there for you.
Yes, there are terms and conditions to any grant funding. But, if you are thinking long-term, you will quickly find that these T+Cs are worth every bit of time and energy.
Firstly, you’ll save money on your energy bills. Secondly, you’ll secure the future of your business by becoming more efficient. Thirdly, you’ll get experts to help you and their fee will be covered by the grant.
Yes
These grants cover up to 95% of the cost of hiring experts to help you
The European Union has a strategic plan for the future of business in the EU. It has identified key areas which must be addressed in our manufacturing and service industries to keep the EU competitive in a global economy.
Becoming Greener
Becoming Leaner
Becoming Innovative
In many industries energy is a significant cost that impacts a business directly in terms of usage and indirectly in-terms of the effects of climate change. Becoming Greener is not a cost; it is a direct win in the short term as well as the long term.
Reducing your costs is key to remaining competitive and not losing market share. Remember these supports are available to your competitors also!
Being on a green journey will impress your customers. More and more of your customers want to see the businesses they deal with focus on being greener. So, there are considerable marketing opportunities around communicating this message and standing out from your competitors.
Lean is a tried and tested way of doing things which makes your offering more competitive and efficient. FACT!
The two key elements are CREATING FLOW and the elimination of 8 key types of waste. Often creating an optimal flow is overlooked and many businesses lose out by not focusing on problems in their flow.
Innovation can mean Developing new innovative products.
Changing your processes to move towards further automation, often referred to as Industry
4.0.
We understand that you may think applying for a grant is a long, drawn-out, bureaucratic process that you feel is not worth the time. However, right now, your competitors are availing of supports that are also there for you.
Yes, there are terms and conditions to any grant funding. But, if you are thinking long-term, you will quickly find that these T+Cs are worth every bit of time and energy.
The EU have rules around state aid and what supports each member states give their businesses. This is to make sure there is fairness across all EU countries.
As a TAX-payer you are indirectly funding these supports so there must be checks and balances to maintain fairness.
By getting grant aided, you will ultimately save money and become more productive. Secondly, you will secure the future of your business by becoming more efficient. Thirdly, you will get experts to help you and our fee will be covered by the grant.
There is an initial grant for us to help you address your problems followed by further grant aid to facilitate the change!
We have leveraged out expertise in Lean and Operational Excellence into the Green Agenda and Innovation. As part of our methodology we identify ways a company can increase its productivity, reduce its carbon, and reduce its environmental footprint. We then explore grants that are available to enable the positive change.
The most difficult part of a company’s journey is at its inception. Once it has customers and a revenue stream, we can add value by helping the company to embrace continuous improvement, get on the right side of the Green agenda and get support from various sources to mitigate the cost of the changes.
An example case study
We mix and match supports to minimise the cost and maximise the chances of securing relevant
grant aid. We also ensure that the client is only minimally involved and can concentrate on day-to-day business while we deal with the grant process.
The COVID pandemic has forced us to change our methods so that we can deliver programs remotely.
For example: We created a suite of videos for Lean tools and are rolling out videos for Green and Innovation. We ask a client to video their process on a smartphone or camera. We analyse the footage and are then able to identify the value and non-value added steps in the process. This is much more accurate than walking through the plant.