TAKING part in InterTradeIreland’s all-island Acumen programme helped participating businesses increase their sales by an average of £250,000, according to figures from the cross-border body.
Acumen has been running for 15 years, and since its inception has helped more than 1,000 companies generate more than £227m worth of additional sales.
The programme provides tangible support for small companies in the north trying to break into a new and often unfamiliar market in the Republic.
Cross-border trading is an essential part of a company’s growth strategy, but lack of knowledge and feet on the ground can hamper progress, which is where Acumen can help.
InterTradeIreland’s director of business services Margaret Hearty said: “We know how challenging it can be to find the time and funding to recruit a dedicated professional to win sales in the cross-border market.
"Companies eligible for Acumen can get help recruiting a sales person along with funding of up to 50 per cent of the cost of the sales person’s salary in the first year.”
One business to seize a new cross-border opportunity is Viltra Wastewater Technology near Newry.
Colm Gribben from Viltra said: “Having a guy out on the road for us in the south made a huge difference. He built a database of architects and engineers and started knocking doors and getting our name out there.
"As a result we got an enquiry about Fanad lighthouse in Donegal and secured a contract to solve the waste water problems for the new visitor centre. Now 25 to 30 per cent of our turnover comes from Ireland and I’m confident this will continue to grow.
“I’d encourage anyone who wants to build their business to apply to Acumen. The application process and advice the consultants gave as part of the programme was a big help. It was like I had 10 people working for me. I gained insight into my competitors and the market I was trading into which was a huge benefit,” adds Colm.
For a full list of eligibility criteria to join the programme go to wwww.intertradeireland.com/Acumen
