Ireland's County & City Enterprise Boards (CCEBs) were established in 1993, as companies limited by guarantee, during a time of high unemployment (15.1%) and limited opportunity for business. They were given statutory status under the Industrial Development Act of 1995. Essentially they were created to stimulate economic development and to cultivate an ethos of local entrepreneurship. While their role is primarily a local one within a broader national strategy, their importance has been raised to an international level by the emphasis placed on entrepreneurship, innovation, incubation and balanced regional development by the European Union.
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Functions
The Enterprise Boards were established to "fill the gap in the support services for local enterprises" and to "develop indigenous potential and stimulate economic activity at local level primarily through the provision of financial and technical support for the development of small enterprises".
The primary goals of each enterprise board are designed to stimulate and promote local enterprise culture and entrepreneurship and to assist new business start ups, particularly through the provision of financial assistance. It also encourages the expansion and growth of existing small businesses through a range of measures such as training and mentoring.
The Irish economy has always relied heavily on its exports and in that respect, the County & City Enterprise Boards actively support those companies with a potential export capacity. Once a company reaches its export potential, Enterprise Ireland will incubate that company going forward. Ireland also depends heavily on its indigenous small and medium enterprises, (SMEs) for internal economic growth. These companies are the primary target for CEB support.
Since 2007, a "Small Enterprise" is defined by Enterprise Ireland, the government agency responsible for the development and promotion of the indigenous business sector, as an enterprise that has fewer than 50 employees and has either an annual turnover and/or an annual Balance Sheet total not exceeding €10m. A "Medium Sized Enterprise" is defined as an enterprise that has between 50 employees and 249 employees and has either an annual turnover not exceeding €50m or an annual Balance Sheet total not exceeding €43m.
At present, innovation, research and development, and the development of sound management capabilities are seen as crucial components of business success in the current difficult economic climate. All are supported at local level by the CEBSs.
The Board
Each board is made up of voluntary members representing the local council, local or national agencies and local community interests. The boards employ a small number of staff who deliver board supports in the locality.
Funding to the Boards
Funding for the Boards is provided by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through the CEB Central Co-Ordination Unit under the National Development Plan 2007–2013 (NDP). Part of this funding comes from the Exchequer and part from the European Regional Development Fund through the two Regional Assemblies: the South and East Region, and the Border, Midlands and West Region.
Funding available from the Boards
The CEBs support the development of Micro-enterprises at local level. The CEBs can support individuals, firms and community groups provided that the proposed projects have the capacity to achieve commercial viability. The CEBs can provide both financial and non-financial assistance to a project promoter. The forms of financial assistance which are available, subject to certain restrictions, include Capital Grants, Employment Grants and Feasibility study Grants. The provision of non-financial assistance can take the form of a wide range of business advice and information services, management capability and development programmes and e-Commerce training initiatives. Details are available through each local CEB.
The basic criteria under which financial assistance is available from the CEBs is based primarily on factors such as the sector of the economy in which an enterprise is operating or intends to operate and the size, or proposed size, of the enterprise. The enterprise must be in the commercial sphere, must demonstrate a market for the proposed product/service, must have a capacity for growth and new job creation and must not employ more than 10 people. The CEBs give priority to enterprises in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector and the CEBs must always give consideration to any potential for deadweight (possibility that project may have gone ahead anyway) and displacement (an assisted project might merely displace turnover or employment in competitor firm) arising from a proposed enterprise.
Statistics
Recent independent evaluation undertaken by Fitzpatrick & Associates, on behalf of Forfas, Ireland's national policy and advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation, highlighted the central role the County & City Enterprise Boards have played in the development of local economies through enterprise.
Forfas have published a full copy of this report.