Why ‘no’ is the most common word used in French business

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France is the most visited tourist destination in the world. Almost 83 million visitors a year make the trip to one of the most culturally rich and diverse countries in the world – and it’s easy to see why.

But visiting as a tourist, as many Irish people do, only scrapes the surface of the French psyche. How France deals with visitors is not always the same as how French business is conducted and it is important to discern the difference.

Irish business culture has evolved into an open, often informal and flexible solution-based environment, driven both by Irish innovation and the requirements of multinational partners. Given that we are an export-driven economy, we are outward facing by default and used to finding bespoke solutions.

 

How French business culture differs from Ireland

It could not be a more contrasting picture in France. French business culture can appear formal to the point of excess, governed by layered hierarchy and tiered bureaucracy.

Combined with French pride in putting their native tongue foremost, it may appear, at first, a difficult cultural barrier to overcome.

At Enterprise Ireland’s most recent Ambition France event, Irish exporters shared first-hand experience of French business culture.

By following the well-trod path to the UK, the US and the English-language friendly Benelux regions, Irish firms could be missing out on opportunities to break into one of the world’s richest countries. France remains a €2.5trn economy, with consistent growth. It is the world’s seventh-largest economy and the third biggest in the Eurozone.

However, for an Irish business keen to enter France, who has done its market research and established its product fit, it will soon become clear why the formality and ‘red tape’ exists.

France loves detail. Bureaucracy is there to establish – and protect – quality. Rather than act as a barrier for entry to the market, it levels the playing field for all competitors. It also means negotiations can be lengthy, and unlike the transactional price-based nature of, for example, the Netherlands, quality and attention to detail will be weighted highly in French business.

“It can seem bewildering,” Michael Stack, Managing Director of Tricel, the Killarney-based composites manufacturer told the conference. 

“But the rules are applied fairly and squarely. No-one is trading within our market outside of the regulatory system. It’s not just a rules-based country, it’s a rules-based country where rules are enforced. That makes it fair for everyone.” says Stack.

 

How to do business in France

It’s why, when doing business in France, one of the most common words heard in meetings will be “Non”. This is not a negative but actually the first step on the road to “Oui”. “Non” forms the basis of a discussion with your intended partner or client that will deal heavily with specifics and navigating French regulatory compliance.

“No doesn’t always mean ‘no’,” Nicola-Marie O’Donovan, Senior Agile Coach from BlaBlaCar, told delegates. “It will likely be the start of a conversation. In Ireland, we tend to say ‘yes’ too quickly. In France, an argument is usually the precursor to a discussion.”

 Formality must not be disregarded, even in looser cultural environments, such as the tech sector. Resist the urge for small talk and never ask personal questions unless invited to do so.

Within French organisations, it would be expected to inform senior figures ahead of team members of developments, even if it would seem to be non-essential information. Protocol matters.

Language skills will be mandatory if an Irish firm is to deal successfully in France or deal with French business partners. French is preferred and having a native French speaker on staff sends a very strong signal of your intent. It is quite normal to have a presentation deck in English but the discussion in French.

Do not underestimate French pride in their language. Make the effort to have marketing and web material accurately translated, preferably by a native French speaker.

“We went to a trade show early on in our venture in France and set up our display with our banner in French but it contained a grammatical error. Every single person who walked by our stand stopped and pointed it out,” Stack told the conference.

 

Get support from Enterprise Ireland

Language can be resolved, of course, with key hires and outsourced translation. Enterprise Ireland’s own GradStart programme will part-fund salaries of individual graduates with a language qualification in the key market helping to get your own boots on the ground in-country, something the French value highly.

Being there matters, agreed Eoin Licken, the Grenoble-based Commercial Manager of Tekelek:

“There is often surprise when a prospect sees me ringing on a French mobile, in French, and you can see the change of tone in the conversation as a result.” Eoin Licken explains.

If your product fit is right for France and you are prepared to adapt to French culture, be prepared for a rewarding foray into the market, said Stack. He added: “If you a want a market where you can compete, where quality is valued rather than cost, then you should seriously consider doing business in France.”

team discussing market research plan

Access premium business intelligence reports with the Market Research Centre

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The main ways client companies can utilise the Enterprise Ireland Market Research Centre

 

If you are interested in entering a new market or diversifying into a new sector, Enterprise Ireland’s Market Research Centre can help. Read how you can best use this Enterprise Ireland support.

Conducting market research can help to reduce business risks and assist your company to map out its journey to growing exports. To support client companies, Enterprise Ireland has invested in access to premium business intelligence databases in Market Research Centres in Dublin and eight regional hubs.

But how can you best access the Market Research Centre? Follow these five steps to make the most of your time there.

 

  1. Create your research objective

First, consider what the information you need will be used for and in what type of resource it is likely to be found. Resources provided by the Market Research Centre include:

  • Market reports
  • Country reports
  • Industry and sector reports
  • Company listings for lead generation
  • Trend forecasts
  • Journal articles

All of this information and research is provided by respected publishers and can only be accessed by clients within the Market Research Centre. The Centre’s information specialists work with a range of providers to ensure your company has access to the most up-to-date knowledge available. Once your research objectives are clear, then you are ready to take the next step.

 

  1. Explore the databases online

Get a sense of the databases you would most like to access at the Market Research Centre online before you make an appointment. You can even search for specific report titles here. By preparing in advance, and checking in with the Market Research Centre before your visit, you can ensure that relevant material is available when you need it and that your time is spent efficiently.

 

  1. Book an appointment

Contact the Market Research Centre to discuss your research request and to arrange a visit to the main centre in Dublin or to any of the eight regional office hubs. Currently there are facilities in the following Enterprise Ireland regional offices: Athlone, Cork, Dundalk, Galway, Shannon, Sligo, Tralee and Waterford.

To book your appointment, contact:

Phone: (01) 727 2324

Email: market.research@enterprise-ireland.com

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.

 

  1. Stay up-to-date and social

The Market Research Centre blog is the best place to find the latest information about resources. This includes the most recent reports available to Enterprise Ireland clients, arranged into categories that are easy to search. From country-specific reports to individual sector research and Brexit-focused news, visiting the blog regularly will give you a sense of the breadth and depth of research and information available to consult during your visit.

You can also follow the Market Research Centre on Twitter to stay up-to-date with its latest news.

 

 

  1. Get guidance from information specialists

One big advantage of using the Market Research Centre is that you’re no longer alone. The Centre’s knowledgeable information specialists are readily available to guide you towards the most relevant reports and databases for your needs. The Market Research Centre’s information specialists can also help you to determine which reports are most relevant to your needs, or assist you with developing a plan of action on which sector or country you should start researching.

Conducting the right market research is vital for businesses to maintain their competitive edge and enjoy successful export growth. With Brexit a reminder of the importance of diversifying and discovering exciting new export opportunities, get the right support from Enterprise Ireland’s Market Research Centre.

GradStart

5 ways GradStart can help you to attract and retain graduates

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Talent is one of the business world’s most valuable resources. The ability to attract, recruit and retain, ambitious, highly skilled employees is a must for every Irish company aiming for success in exporting markets.

Irish companies with the ambition to grow exports, will benefit from developing a competitive edge to attract the motivated and highly skilled talent they need. Enterprise Ireland’s GradStart offers just that. In addition to financial support, GradStart provides invaluable guidance on how to attract, retain and build long-term relationships with graduates.

Here are five ways GradStart can help you.

 

1. Know your strengths

Competing for top talent can be difficult for SMEs, due to competition for skills in the marketplace. In some cases, smaller businesses can also lack a dedicated department to focus on skills attraction and promoting the company brand. However, it’s important for Irish companies to develop a talent attraction strategy and articulate the strengths that make them attractive employers for many graduates.

Helen McMahon, senior executive for Client Skills with Enterprise Ireland, comments:

“There’s something really exciting about working for an SME. Employees have access to more business areas than they might in large multinationals, where roles are often strictly defined. Graduates get the opportunity to work with senior management teams, have more exposure to a range of processes and systems, and the potential for more responsibility at an earlier stage in their career development. Above all, there’s a chance to really make a difference in a smaller company.”

Accessing GradStart helps companies to gain confidence and expertise in these benefits in order to market them to the highly skilled people that can help their business to reach the next level.

 

2. Define the role

Be clear about the skills your company needs and remember that it should include both hard and soft skills. Hard skills include technical expertise and knowledge of a particular system or a way of working. Soft skills, such as the ability to build relationships; work as part of a team, manage people effectively, and creative problem solving, are just as important.

Helen explains: “To apply for GradStart, a company needs to have defined a specific role for a graduate, and there must be an underlying business case for the role.”

For example, a company may want to attract a graduate with specific skills attached to a particular project. Not only must the company be clear in their GradStart application about why those skills are needed, but it should also be clear on the importance of the project to the company’s overall development and export growth. Clarity on the job role and project will make your company more attractive to discerning potential employees.

 

3. Build a career path

Bright ambitious candidates are interested in more than salary and perks. Particularly at the outset of their career, good candidates want to know that a job will enable them to develop their skills and expertise.

Helen adds: “It’s vital to show graduates that you are thinking of their career path as much as they are. You’re looking to build a long-term relationship and you need to show them that you are committed to helping them grow and develop.”

Investing in a good employee’s development is one of the best ways of ensuring they stay with your company. Research indicates one common reason people leave companies is that they feel they have stopped learning and developing. Very often, they go in search of new challenges, rather than more money.

As part of the GradStart programme, you are required to plan a career path for your potential recruit, the focus on which can also be attractive to potential candidates.

 

4. Think long term

If a graduate employee eventually leaves your company, it is often wise to maintain a strong relationship with them. Opportunities to collaborate may appear later, or a role that suits them perfectly may be created within your company in the future. A strong relationship with previous graduate employees can also be an on-going source of valuable industry intelligence.

Helen comments: “When you’re recruiting a graduate, you aren’t just selling the idea of joining your company, you’re selling the idea of becoming part of an industry or sector. You want them to feel that this is an exciting industry with lots of opportunities. Even if they do someday move on from your company, it can be very beneficial if they stay within your industry.”

 

5. Use recruitment tools

As part of GradStart, you will be supported through the graduate recruitment process. You will be encouraged to advertise your new position on Enterprise Ireland’s dedicated website for graduate offers and initiatives – gradhub.ie.  This site is directly linked to GradIreland, which has access to 80,000 graduates approximately. You can, of course, source a graduate yourself. It is important to remember that, to qualify for GradStart, the employee can’t have previously worked with the company or be working there currently.

 

What does GradStart offer?

GradStart provides financial support for a company to recruit up to three graduates for a duration of two years each. The support covers 50% of a graduate’s yearly salary, up to a maximum of €15,000 a year in grant aid (ie a salary of €30,000) for two years.

For graduates with proficiency in a language relevant to the business role, the grant increases to 70% of the salary, up to a maximum of €21,000 a year for two years.

It is available for Irish graduates or for overseas graduates, based either in Ireland or overseas. The graduate must be paid by an Irish company to access GradStart funding.

Get the support you need to step into new markets.  Check your company’s eligibility on this link below.

Apply for GradStart now.

5 ways to make the most of your Market Discovery Fund project 

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Learning that your business has been approved for a support like Enterprise Ireland’s Market Discovery Fund is great news. But it is followed by an important question. How can you make the best use of that financial support to maximise its value to your business?

 

1.    Make the most of Enterprise Ireland’s resources

Use all of the resources available to you as a company supported by Enterprise Ireland while you carry out the project and conduct your research.

Your Development Adviser 

Stay in touch with your Development Adviser throughout the project. Let them know you’re interested in attending relevant market and sector events and they will keep you top of mind.

39 overseas offices* 

Make time to visit Enterprise Ireland’s most relevant overseas offices as part of your project. With offices in 39 locations worldwide, our advisers have expert knowledge of the markets and sectors of most importance to Irish exporters.

If you alert the in-market team to your visit well in advance, they may be able to arrange meetings with valuable local contacts. After your visit, remember to stay in touch with the market advisers you know to stay up-to-date with local opportunities and developments.

(*39 correct as of 3 December 2019, date of publication)

Market Research Centre

Conducting the right market research is vital to maintaining your competitive edge and enjoying successful export growth – but it can also cost time, money and resources for which your business must budget.

The information specialists at Enterprise Ireland’s Market Research Centre offer a wealth of experience available to guide you to the most relevant reports and databases for your needs, and to provide support before and during your visit. They can help you to access current market research reports from some of the world’s leading publishers, such as Euromonitor International, Frost & Sullivan, and Mintel. The Centre is available free-of-charge to companies supported by Enterprise Ireland across the regional office network.

 

2.    Focus on your most promising markets

One important rule of thumb is to consider no more than three markets within a Market Discovery Fund project. Carrying out a market prioritisation exercise and comparing the potential of two or three markets within a region can be a smart use of this type of support.

Whichever markets you consider, remember that internet research alone will only take you so far. Travel to each market you are considering where feasible. You will learn far more on the ground than you can from behind a screen.

Also think carefully about the bandwidth (covering both people and finance) required to manage the project. Projects such as this typically take no more than six months, unless you recruit a graduate or entry-level executive to undertake a more substantial piece of research.

 

3.    Assess trade fair options

If you are planning to exhibit at a trade fair, try to visit the year or season before, so you can assess if it really is a good fit for your business. The most important factor to look out for is if the right kind of buyers and decision-makers attend.

If it is a big fair, spend some time establishing which is the right hall for your company to exhibit in. Being in the wrong hall is a waste of time and resources and can leave you and your team feeling frustrated.

If you decide to exhibit next time around, get in touch with the organisers as early as possible to find out costings or packages in addition to availability, as previous exhibitors are likely to be given priority.

 

 

4.    Know the claims process and track everything

You can find all the information and forms you need to submit your claim(s) to the Market Discovery Fund here. This includes:

  • Instructions for making your claim
  • The claim form
  • A claim form checklist
  • A timesheet template
  • A Director’s Statement template
  • A progress report form
  • More information on the claims process.

 

While at this point your application has been approved, it is vital to keep detailed records of all expenditure relating to your project. This can include:

  • Timesheets for employees, as relevant wages and salaries can be covered, subject to conditions outlined here
  • Receipts and invoices for all foreign travel and subsistence expenses directly related to the project. Remember these must be incurred by company employees supported on the project
  • The cost of purchasing reports and databases relating to a new market or sector (when relevant and not accessible through the Market Research Centre).

 

5.    Understand the value of what you learn

At first, it might seem disappointing if research indicates that a valid opportunity to bring your product or service to a particular market or markets does not exist. But it is actually a great lesson.

It is far better to be aware of this insight before committing fully to a market, as discovering a lack of potential later will cost your business much more.

Knowing which markets not to prioritise can be just as important as understanding which ones are most worth investing your time and resources. Refining your overall market strategy is a valuable outcome of a successful Market Discovery Fund project.

Remember, you must contact your assigned Enterprise Ireland Adviser to discuss your Market Discovery Fund application before you submit it. If you’re a first-time applicant, you need to register on the Enterprise Ireland Online Application System.

To discover how your company can take the step into new markets, visit: globalambition.ie/steps.      

Help your company grow by using the Market Research Centre

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With Brexit a reminder of the importance of diversifying and discovering exciting new export opportunities, Enterprise Ireland’s Market Research Centre can help.

Conducting the right market research is vital for businesses to maintain their competitive edge and enjoy successful export growth. According to a recent Enterprise Ireland survey, more than four out of five businesses plan to diversify into the Eurozone – a smart move given its potential export market value of €38bn alone.

Enterprise Ireland-supported companies can benefit from support in their plans to expand their reach. Here are five ways that our Market Research Centre can help.

 

1. Access world-class market research

Conducting market research before exporting into new markets can cost time, money and resources for which your business must budget. The Market Research Centre can help by providing access to up-to-date premium market research reports from some of the world’s leading market research publishers, such as Euromonitor International, Frost & Sullivan, and Mintel.

The Centre provides access to:

  • Country reports
  • Global company profiles
  • Industry sector reports
  • Trend forecasts.

The Centre is available free-of-charge to companies supported by Enterprise Ireland across the regional office network.

With some individual reports costing tens of thousands of euro, the potential value of using the service is immense.

 

2. Know your markets

When planning to export, the most important step is to learn as much about your new target market as possible. Accessing the latest research available through the Market Research Centre will help you to understand potential export regions and the competitors already operating there. Questions you should consider include:

  • What is the size of the market?
  • Who are the big players?
  • Is there a dominant brand in the market

       

      3. Know your channels

      When Abcon, an abrasives and industrial hose manufacturer from Co. Cavan wanted to increase exports to the Eurozone after the Brexit referendum, they needed to understand the markets that would help to grow the business.

      With a high volume of sales driven by internet searches, accurate information about the names of products in local languages proved essential to underpinning successful international digital marketing tactics.

      Lyn Sharkey, Sales and Marketing Director for Abcon, says that the Market Research Centre’s information specialists helped the company to obtain such information, in addition to lists of potential leads and trade events to attend – all of which would have been far more difficult to source alone.

       

      4. Insights about your customers

      Understanding the demographics of a market and the competitors already succeeding there is of little value unless you also understand your new potential customers, and how your offerings should be tweaked or positioned to best appeal to them.

      One of the most vital considerations for any company is: “what does your customer want, and how does it differ from what you’re already doing and delivering?”.

      When Irish Dog Foods, the Naas-based pet food manufacturer, was planning to enter the South Korean market, they asked these same questions. The company turned to the Market Research Centre to learn which customers it should sell to.

      “One of the things we learned during our market research is that there are practically no large dogs in Korea,” says Darren Keating, Marketing Manager of Irish Dog Foods. “That meant we specifically targeted the owners of small dogs. That information came from the Market Research Centre.”

       

      5. Guidance from information specialists

      The Market Research Centre’s information specialists have a wealth of experience and are available to guide you to the most relevant reports and databases for your needs, and to provide support before and during your visit.

      Sometimes the best support is reassurance from a specialist that you are heading in the right direction, allowing you to use your time efficiently.

       

      Contact Us

      Contact the Market Research Centre to discuss your research request and to arrange a visit to our centre in Dublin or to any of our eight regional office hubs.

      Phone: +353 (1) 727 2324

      Email: market.research@enterprise-ireland.com

      Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

      How Modubuild Became the Go-To Contractor for Global Data Centre Providers

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      “When we did finally take the plunge to grow our business internationally, our growth skyrocketed and today we’re delivering multiple multimillion-euro projects  simultaneously.” 

      Kevin Brennan, co-founder and managing director of Modubuild

      Overview:

      • Sector: Construction, Data Centre industry, Biopharma and Pharma
      • Markets: Netherland, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Finland,
      • Supports: Job Expansion Fund, Enterprise Ireland’s International Office Network

      Case Study: Modubuild

      The world is producing more data than ever and the need for high-capacity storage systems has never been greater. In fact, TechNavio said it expects the data centre market in Europe to surpass $25 billion in 2023, a compound annual growth rate of 11% since 2019 — and Kilkenny-based Modubuild is banking on being a big part of that.

      Established in 2006, Modubuild provides on-site modular construction solutions on some of Europe’s largest high-tech projects, primarily in the data centre, biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical sectors. The company also operates a 140,000-square-foot off-site production facility in Castlecomer, where entire high-tech building modules are constructed within the factory and then transported to sites across Europe.

      Modubuild has grown an average of 45% year-on-year for the last six years, with significant contracts in Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, the UK and Finland. Its customers include leading global data centre providers, as well as biopharma companies such as Amgen, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, MSD and more.

      “We were a small Irish company for a number of years. When we did finally take the plunge to grow our business internationally, our growth skyrocketed and today we’re delivering multiple multimillion-euro projects simultaneously,” reveals Kevin Brennan, co-founder and managing director of Modubuild, noting that the right support has been essential to the company achieving its global ambitions — and Enterprise Ireland has been a key partner on its path to growth.

       

      The Netherlands: a gateway to Europe’s data centre industry

      Modubuild wasn’t always in the data centre business. Back in its early days, the company provided specialist modular fire and explosion systems for pharmaceutical companies and infrastructure projects such as the Limerick Tunnel and Dublin Airport. But it wasn’t long before Kevin and his team noticed a gap in the market for companies that could deliver high-tech data centre systems quickly and in multiple locations throughout Northern Europe.

      “We wanted to grow the company internationally and we wanted to become the leading international player in high-tech modular construction, to do this we knew we needed to grow our team and partner with the right organisations in our target markets,” Kevin says, explaining the reason behind Modubuild becoming an Enterprise Ireland client company in 2014. “We knew that Enterprise Ireland could introduce us to various partners in target markets and could also help us with funding to hire the additional staff we needed at the time.”

      With the help of Enterprise Ireland’s Job Expansion Fund, which provides grant support of up to €150,000 towards the recruitment of additional employees, Modubuild was able to grow from 10 to 20 employees, enabling it to invest in picking up opportunities in new markets.

      “A lot of small businesses might think twice about hiring people because of the cost blow,” Kevin says. “Whereas, if you have the financial support behind you from Enterprise Ireland, it makes it that little bit easier to overhire people in advance of winning contracts.”

      In 2015, Modubuild won its first large international contract — a data centre project in the Netherlands, worth €8 million, for a client that the company had previously worked for in Ireland.

      “That was our biggest contract up to that point and it was in a new market so it was a double win for us,” Kevin recalls, adding, “From this, we developed a reputation as a company that could deliver large, complex, fast-track projects internationally. At the time, it was one of the largest data centre projects in Europe.”

      That said, there was more to entering the Dutch market than winning a contract there — Modubuild needed local advisors and partners that could guide the company on the legal and tax compliance front. Enterprise Ireland recommended a law firm that could offer advice around contract, legal and tax requirements as well as an accountancy firm that could help with day-to-day work related to labour, payroll and local compliance.

      Since then the company has continued to ramp up work in the Netherlands — there are currently multiple multi-million projects ongoing — and, with Enterprise Ireland’s support and guidance, opened an office in Amsterdam in January of this year.

      “Enterprise Ireland arranged for Kevin Kelly, the Ambassador of Ireland to the Netherlands, to attend the official opening and we got a nice bit of PR around that,” Kevin says, adding that something similar is planned in the coming months when the company will announce the opening of a new office in Brussels. “We recently set up a regional office in Belgium where we have won our largest project to date. We have also secured significant contracts in Finland and Sweden, so we expect to see continued strong growth across the Benelux and Nordics regions in addition to Ireland and the UK.”

       

      Scaling for future growth

      With the digital universe expected to reach 44 zettabytes by 2020, fuelled by the Internet of Things and the use of connected devices, the global data centre industry shows no signs of slowing down — and either does Modubuild.

      “We’ll continue to grow our international data centre business. Every year we’re picking up more contracts and larger contracts, which is causing us to grow across Northern Europe and we expect to enter some new markets within the next year such as Norway,” Kevin says.

      He also sees the off-site facility as a major factor in Modubuild’s future growth.

      “We’re the only company in Europe with an off-site facility that can produce these high-tech buildings and it allows us greater control of quality, greater efficiency and enables us to export a higher value product, meaning we can do more of the value-add within Ireland before we ship out the buildings” states Brennan.

      And because a strong team will be central to such growth, Modubuild is in the middle of a major recruitment drive and has hired 20 additional people in the last 12 months, bringing its total to 45 direct staff as well as over 200 indirect employees.

      “I expect that Enterprise Ireland will help us with more job expansion funding and by making key introductions as we enter new markets,” Kevin shares, adding that he’d urge any Irish company that’s considering a move to talk to Enterprise Ireland and to other companies who have successfully diversified their client base. “It’s extremely worthwhile to move into new markets. The benefit of scaling your business internationally is that you’re not dependent on any particular market. Even if things are quieter in Ireland, when you have multiple different markets, you spread your risk.”

      Read more on the supports available to help your business diversify into new markets or speak to your Development Advisor today.

       

      Transport & Logistics Industry Update – Webinar

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      The Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and the re-shaping of transport routes brought a very turbulent start to 2021. Logistics and transportation companies involved in the movement, storage and flow of goods have been directly impacted and had to rapidly adapt to changing business landscape. Irish companies exporting their products or importing components or raw materials need to follow and understand these trends to stay competitive.

      This Enterprise Ireland webinar identifies these challenges and examines current developments with a panel of industry experts.

      The webinar is chaired by Enterprise Ireland’s Director UK & Northern Europe Marina Donohoe with insights from:

       • Gopal R, Global Leader, Supply Chain & Logistics, Frost & Sullivan

      • John Ward, Managing Director, Maurice Ward & Co. Ltd Ireland

      • Richard Nolan, CEO, Nolan Transport – Nolan Group

       

      Register now to attend the webinar.

      Evolve UK  Report – Local Authority Investment Areas and the impact of Covid-19

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      The UK remains the largest export market for indigenous Irish companies. A new focus for Enterprise Ireland in the UK is to support Irish companies looking to enter the UK Local Authorities space.

      This report, commissioned by Enterprise Ireland provides an overview of UK Local Authorities to help inform Irish companies of their structure and procurement processes.

      Click the below image to view or download the complete report.

       

      Man with lightbulb representing Innovation

      Agile Innovation Fund: Easier than ever for companies of all sizes to access R&D funding

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      It is now easier than ever for Irish companies to access R&D funding to improve their products and services and compete internationally.

      That was the message from Enterprise Ireland and the national network of Local Enterprise Offices to representatives from more than 60 companies who attended a research, development and innovation event recently in Dublin.

      Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs pledged to use the Agile Innovation Fund to support companies of all sizes as they to seek to open new export markets and grow – promising a fast, flexible and simple application process.

       

      Find more information about the Agile Innovation Fund here.

      Speaking at the Agile Innovation Workshop, Eoghan Hanrahan, Enterprise Ireland Regional Director for the Dublin Region and Regional Development, said: “In doing R&D, companies have to challenge the norms, do something different, look at achieving some kind of technical innovation to try and future-proof their company.

       

      Get support for Agile Innovation

      “We recognise that R&D can be challenging but it is a very important step for any business to take and it’s also important that they are supported in doing so. Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs are here to assist people and companies who want to invest in R&D. The Agile Innovation Fund offers up to 50% funding to a maximum of €150,000 in grant aid.”

      Irish companies are spending less on R&D than most European competitors. Latest Eurostat figures show that spending in 2017 equated to 1.05% of GDP, almost half the EU average of 2.07% and well behind R&D leaders Sweden, Austria, Denmark and Germany – all of whom spent more than 3% of GDP.

      Of the €3bn that was invested in R&D in Ireland, €1bn was spent by indigenous companies. It is notable that in 2007, Ireland spent a higher percentage of GDP (1.23%) on R&D than it did in 2017.

      Joe Madden, Manager of In-Company R&D Supports at Enterprise Ireland, told the workshop that the Agile Innovation Fund was designed to counter the belief among SMEs that funding R&D is too costly and that securing state support for projects is too complex and geared towards larger operations.

       

      Flexible and fast access to Agile Innovation funding

      “The Agile innovation fund was introduced at the beginning of 2018 as a response to a very steep fall off in applications for R&D support,” Mr Madden said. “Companies were telling us that the standard R&D application process was too complicated and very often they would have a project finished before they even knew whether they were going to get approval to do it.

      “We needed to introduce something much more flexible, much faster and where the funding wasn’t as high so that we could apply a less onerous process for evaluating and approving applications.”

      The main feature of the Agile Innovation Fund is its fast turnaround time, with an application process that results in decisions in a few weeks rather than several months. More than 90 companies have drawn down around €20m in funding since it was launched last year, with 90% of them rating the application process as relatively simple in a survey.

      Madden added: “There are only two documents required to apply for the Agile Innovation Fund, an online application form and a project plan. The project plan is what the technical assessment of the application is based on. The technical assessors are looking for two things: is this eligible R&D and are the costs reasonable. To be eligible R&D, there has to be technical uncertainty – this means the project must demonstrate some kind of product or process development technical challenge.

      “Total expenditure on any single application is limited to €300,000, so if your project spend goes to €300,001, it is not eligible for funding. Typically for a smaller company, the funding would be 45% of the total cost, which equates to a maximum grant of €135,000. If a small company collaborates with a partner, this funding can rise to 50% and therefore the limit increases to €150,000.”

      The goal of the Agile Innovation Fund is to increase the amount of spending by indigenous companies of all sizes on R&D across the economy.

       

      Local Enterprise Office support

      Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise at LEO Fingal, advised companies that are not Enterprise Ireland clients to get in touch with their Local Enterprise Office.

      He said: “Providing assistance and funding for R&D projects or innovation is one of the core reasons why the Local Enterprise Offices are here. R&D is not just about wearing white coats and having a lab. Most of the businesses we are dealing with could potentially apply for and receive R&D grants

      “We want to see more applications from SMEs and the LEOs will work with you to give you advice and guidance on the application process. It’s called Agile for a reason, the application process is straightforward, it’s online and we want to see applications processed and approved quickly.”

      Apply for the Agile Innovation Fund now.

      John Ferguson Ambition Asia Pacific 2

      ‘Phenomenal’ middle class growth in Asia Pacific an opportunity for Irish companies

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      The growth of the middle class throughout Asia Pacific presents ambitious Irish companies with unprecedented opportunities, delegates at the recent Ambition Asia Pacific conference in Dublin heard.

      Some 23 million new ASEAN households are on track to earn more than US $35,000 a year by 2030 in what is “the fastest-growing, most dynamic region in the world,” said John Ferguson, Director of Country Analysis at the Economist Intelligence Unit, who provided an overview of growth trends and opportunities in the region.

       

      Growth rates in Asia Pacific countries

      In China, major strategic programmes such as Made in China 2025 and the long term Belt and Road construction initiative “are not going away”, he said.

      “Chinese growth is still just very modestly slowing down to around 6%,” he said. The government there is using monetary goals and fiscal policy to maintain that growth.

      Even allowing for the challenges facing China, “it’s still going to grow pretty reasonably well over the next couple of years,” he said.

      Growth prospects in Japan, at 1%, are much smaller, however. As a huge, developed and rich economy, it’s one in which there are still “a lot of opportunities” for Irish companies, he suggested.

      Much of that opportunity relates to Japan’s Society 5.0 initiative, the Japanese government’s focus on artificial intelligence, sensor technology and automation.

      “This is a huge initiative for the Japanese. That’s where some of the growth opportunities will present themselves in Japan, already a highly developed economy but really trying to push themselves with this fourth industrial revolution.”

      India represents a particularly “bright spot” in the global economy, said Ferguson, who predicted growth of around 7% on average likely over the next five years.John Ferguson Ambition Asia Pacific

      This compares with global growth of around 2% and Asian growth of between 4% and 5%. India’s growth outlook is “extraordinary”, he said.

      The primary opportunity in India, as in Asia Pacific countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia, is one of population development and subsequent growth in demand for consumer goods and services.

      With predicted growth levels of 5% and a large population, Indonesia is another really strong performer, again driven by the fast growth of its middle, or consuming, class, he said.

      Indonesia’s five-year growth rate forecast is almost double that of Singapore’s, at 2.9%. However, the additional opportunity in Singapore comes from its ease of doing business and its popular status as a launchpad from which to do business elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region, he said.

      So, while Singapore is growing a more slowly than some of the less well developed countries in the region, it’s still growing at “a pretty impressive rate of growth for economy at its stage of development.”

      South Korea is another mature market but still likely to show average growth of 2.7% over the next five years. “In our view, that’s a pretty reasonable growth for a country at that stage of development.”

      “The rising middle class in the Asia Pacific region is phenomenal. The world is moving east.” Kevin Sherry, executive director Global Business Development, Enterprise Ireland

      Australia – another frequent launchpad into the wider region for Irish companies – and New Zealand are both stable economies but, cautioned Ferguson, both are seeing climate change and immigration becoming significant political issues.

      Kevin Sherry at Ambition Asia Pacific Conf.For Irish businesses looking at these markets, either as part of their supply chain or as end markets, it’s worth keeping an eye on regulatory initiatives in relation to either, he said.

      Enterprise Ireland is working with more than 600 companies who are doing business in the Asia Pacific region.  “Irish companies are used to winning in the Asia Pacific markets,” said Kevin Sherry, executive director Global Business Development at Enterprise Ireland.  “The rising middle class in the Asia Pacific region is phenomenal. The world is moving east.”

      Depending on what happens in October in relation to Brexit, Ireland may be the only English speaking country in the EU, a fact that presents challenges but opportunities too, he pointed out.

      Enterprise Ireland is expanding its footprint in the Asia Pacific region to help support Irish companies looking to capitalise on the growing level of opportunities there, opening new offices in Auckland, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in Melbourne, Australia and in Shenzhen, China, he said.

       

      Read more Global Ambition articles on the opportunities for Irish companies in Asia.

      Discussing business opportunities

      Scaling into Europe for business success

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      A growing number of Irish companies are blazing a trail into Europe. Here’s why.

      If ever there was a time to diversify and seek opportunities in new markets, for Irish businesses the time is now.

      As a member of the Eurozone, Irish firms are well positioned for market diversification. Although launching into a new market carries risks, the Eurozone offers several advantages.

      First, there is easy access to 340 million people in 19 states that share the single currency. There is the Eurozone’s stable economy that, as a bloc, will continue to grow a further 1.3% through 2019. The benefits of single currency should not be underestimated, offering zero currency risk without fluctuating exchange rates or conversion costs.

      Trade in the Eurozone also benefits from the absence of tariffs and customs, while a common regulatory environment means that Irish goods and services comply with EU legislation.

       

      Irish companies in Europe

      Irish companies have blazed a trail into Europe before, for these reasons and more. At Enterprise Ireland’s Eurozone Summit earlier this year, Irish firms described how diversification has proven to be the key to growth. Among them was Irish workwear company Portwest, who warned that when a single client went under, they lost 35% of their business.

      “It taught us a hard lesson about diversification,” said Orla Hughes, the firm’s European Commercial Manager. “If we didn’t expand to Europe, we would have 50% of our business now.”

      That move 15 years ago, has seen the firm build out its sales model through distributors, and Hughes believes the Eurozone offers huge potential. “In our top 10 Eurozone countries, we have 4,500 customers or distributors of our products. When it comes to the Eurozone, even though we have been there 15 years, we feel we have only scratched the surface. Of the 60 trade shows we did worldwide last year, 35 of them were in the Eurozone. It’s got enormous potential for us.”

      There were key learnings for Portwest as it hit new markets with its workwear range. For instance, in Germany, orange hi-visibility workwear vests are typically the preserve of refuse collectors, so local differences can affect sales, said Hughes.

       

      Some Irish start-ups have seen success by taking their first steps in Europe.

      When ParkPnP, a parking marketplace, conducted market research, it found strong competitors already in its target market – the UK – so opted instead to move directly into the European space, with the densely populated Benelux region firmly in its sights. By acquiring a local Belgian firm in the same space, it quickly acquired market share and, importantly, local market knowledge.

      CEO Garret Flower described the critical importance of doing market research ahead of launching into a new territory: “You are immediately drawn to Germany because of the scale. It sounds huge.

      “But dig a little deeper and you find that Germans don’t pay for their parking via apps; 90% of them still prefer to pay by coin.

      “When we looked at Europe, we saw it was very much a greenfield, so we believed that if we could get to market first, we could grow quickly to maximise unused parking space with our solution.” ParkPnP CEO, Garret Flower 

      The decision to locate in Belgium paid off, and the firm has adopted a franchising model to branch into the Netherlands.

      “Having done it this way, we feel we have a solid foundation to roll out across Europe and can now go into France and Germany. Franchising with local players, for us, we felt was, and is, the best way to roll out. It gives us speed and speed helps us to scale.”

      In order to successfully tap into Eurozone markets all elements of new market entry preparations are required: market research to select the market with the best opportunities, a value proposition that matches the new market and highlights your competitive advantage, the right route to market, and the resourcing of people, skills and funding to make it happen.

      Enterprise Ireland’s world-class Market Research Centre has extensive resources to aid your research, while our Excel at Market Intelligence programme will advise how best to conduct market research.

      Our Market Discovery fund is a key financial support for new market entry, ensuring you have funding to research, get expert advice and conduct market study visits. GradStart provides up to 70% of two-year salaries for graduates with relevant market language skills.

      Companies we support benefit from our market advisers’ near-unmatched knowledge of market dynamics, target buyers, networks and ecosystems across six Eurozone locations. When you’re ready to enter the market, we offer a key manager grant to help co-fund the salary of personnel with the right skills to work with market advisers and drive your diversification plans.

      Asia Pac Conference

      Ambition Asia Pacific is closer than you think

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      Places are booking out fast for a major event bringing opportunities in Asia Pacific to Irish businesses.

      Ambition Asia Pacific is a major Enterprise Ireland conference taking place in Dublin in June to provide Irish exporters with a roadmap to success in some of the region’s fastest-growing markets. The conference takes place on 13th June at the Aviva Stadium.

      “The purpose of the event is to not only to raise awareness of the opportunities that exist in the APAC region, but to provide Irish companies with an understanding of how to do business there,” says Tom Cusack, Regional Director Asia Pacific at Enterprise Ireland.

      Secure your place at Ambition Asia Pacific now.

       

      Support for entering Asia Pacific

      It’s one of a number of events Enterprise Ireland is hosting to support Irish businesses looking to trade there, including trade missions due to take place later this year in markets such as Japan, Korea, and China.

      Enterprise Ireland is also opening two new offices, in Melbourne Australia and Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam. That brings to 10 the number of offices it has in the Asia Pacific region, a clear indication of the deepening of its support for Irish businesses looking to trade in the region.

      “In the context of Brexit, expanding the Irish export footprint in markets beyond the UK is a key priority for Enterprise Ireland. The Ambition Asia Pacific event is about raising awareness in Irish companies – and the ambition – to pursue realisable opportunities throughout the Asia Pacific region,” says Cusack.

      Traditionally, the biggest perceived barrier to Irish businesses in the region has been distance but ease of access has never been greater, he points out.

      “Ireland now enjoys ease of connectivity to the region, with direct flights to destinations such as Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Beijing, meaning Irish companies can leave Dublin at lunch time and arrive in Asia in time for breakfast,” he says.

       

      Big opportunities for Irish businesses

      The scale of the opportunity for Irish businesses is unprecedented, too, and spans multiple sectors.

      These include aviation. “Over the next 20 years, half of the world’s air traffic growth will be driven by travel to, from, or within, the Asia Pacific region. This rapid growth requires significant investment in infrastructure, products and services,” he says.

      There are enormous opportunities for financial services and fintech too, thanks to a growing middle class, increased digitisation of financial products, and massive investor interest.

      Within the past two years “fintech financing in Asia Pacific has eclipsed that of North America for the first time, and is now four times larger than the European market,” says Cusack.

      “Weak legacy IT infrastructure in Asia Pacific countries incentivises quicker adoption of digital technologies, providing a great opportunity for Irish companies, not least in fintech and payments.”

      The potential for education services is clear too, he says. What’s more, if the UK leaves the EU, Ireland will become the largest English-speaking education market in the EU at a time when demand for English third-level education across the APAC region is fast growing.

      Construction and engineering services, healthcare products and services and agritech solutions are also in demand.

      All these sectors, and more, stand to benefit from GDP growth rates across Asia, which average 6%, compared with growth rates of just 2% in Europe and the US. By 2030, Asia will account for two thirds of the world’s middle class, and Asian economies are predicted to be larger than the rest of the world combined in a matter of months.

       

      Irish success in Asia Pacific

      Very many Irish companies have already successfully capitalised on opportunities in the region. This means that, while opening up new markets in faraway places is always a challenge, first time exporters to the region will, in fact, be following a well established path.

      “Most Irish companies’ first foray into the Asia Pacific region is via Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. These are familiar places in which to do business, with substantial and highly supportive diaspora networks,” he points out.

      On top of that, is an array of Enterprise Ireland supports including business networking and introductions, market research and entry strategy advice, as well as financial support for market diversification.

      Irish companies looking to enter the Asian market can also draw from the wealth of experience of those that have already done so. To date, more than 600 companies supported by Enterprise Ireland have exported to the region. In fact, exports by Irish companies to Asia Pacific now surpass €2 billion, having more than doubled since 2012.

       

      Learn from the Irish experience in Asia Pacific

      The upcoming Ambition Asia Pacific event is an opportunity to find out exactly how they did it, learn from their successes – and mistakes – and pick up invaluable tips.

      In a packed programme of events, speakers include Denis Hickie, general manager ATA Group (Ireland & UK); Brian Mehigan, chief strategy officer Kerry Group, and Elaine Coughlan, managing partner and founder of Atlantic Bridge.

      Niall Norton, CEO and board member of Openet Telecom; former chief digital and client experience officer at Citi Asia and EMEA Felimy Greene; and John Ferguson, director of country forecasting at the Economist Intelligence Unit will also make presentations.

      The event features a number of dedicated breakout sessions, too, spanning financial services, aviation, digital technology, and international education.

      It will also include an event on opportunities in China with a panel discussion featuring a number of Irish success stories in the region. This particular breakout session will include a large business delegation from the China Hi-Tech Fair trade show in Shenzhen, who are actively interested in meeting Irish companies with ambition for China.

      Admittance is limited and booking out fast so to secure your place at Ambition Asia Pacific register now.