Blog

In today’s dynamic business environment there is no doubt that the demand for SMEs to adopt digital technologies is ever-increasing. Pressure from competitors, suppliers, and indeed customers exist, all demanding changes in how SMEs deliver their goods and services. So where does such a journey begin for companies in Ireland and Northern Ireland and is it worth it?

The all-island public procurement market is undergoing some important changes, companies who are considering bidding for public sector contracts will need to be aware of these changes in order to stay competitive.

In this month's blog, Connor Sweeney, InterTradeIreland’s Seedcorn Programme Manager, discusses why having a sound management team in place is essential for your start-up to succeed.

InterTradeIreland’s Lead Equity Advisor, Drew O’Sullivan shares some valuable insights into why decisions on pricing, margins and cash flow generative models need to be carefully considered before seeking investment.

To celebrate International Women's Day 2022 we spoke to Shana Chu, CEO of Tailr about her company, the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn process and advice for aspiring female entrepreneurs.

Gaining investment isn’t always easy, it can be a long and competitive process, but one that is worth the wait.

Effective collaboration offers the facilitation and transfer of crucial skills, knowledge, expertise and supports growth capability.

What are your business goals in 2022? If raising funds is high on your list, then there are a couple of things you can do to increase your chances.

Business Model Innovation is a misunderstood term but one with huge potential. To achieve business model innovation you must first understand what a business model is. Put simply, a Business Model is a blueprint of how a company creates and captures value.

2022 will bring both challenges and opportunities and in order to succeed, firms should arm themselves with knowledge of upcoming ‘key trends’.

The need for networking has probably never been greater but after over a year of limited contact, people may find it more difficult than ever before.

Here are five fundamental tips that you can use to optimise your eCommerce store for success.

Opportunity for public procurement on the island of Ireland is currently valued in excess of £11bn/€13bn per annum, with £7.6bn/€9bn in Ireland, and approximately £3.5bn/€4bn in Northern Ireland.

When exploring innovation, don’t just think in terms of products and services, think about people.

Cross-border trade is a significant slice of the economy – if you need any persuasion the numbers speak for themselves.

Professor Alan Ahearne, Director of the Whitaker Institute at NUIG, advises on the opportunities for SMEs that are ready to adapt after Covid19.

Gaining finance for your business isn’t always easy, but there are some steps you can take to help.

Collaboration is a powerful tool for those looking to support business recovery. Effective collaboration offers the facilitation and transfer of crucial skills, knowledge expertise and supports growth capability.

The all-island public procurement market represents significant opportunities for small organisations to increase their sales and win steady business. Here are some useful tips to help you find tendering success.

Find out how you can invest in your company’s success and gain investment this year.

Jamie Heaslip shares his advice on how to seek out business opportunities.

Innovation management expert and author of the bestselling book, ‘The Business Model Navigator’, Professor Oliver Gassman's short-term and long-term solutions for SMEs’ survival and post-crisis growth.

New Year’s resolutions for business success in 2021.

Five essential steps businesses can take now to prepare for Brexit.

Get some useful tips to help boost your company's ranking in Google Search and win new business

Tips for social media for business owners who want to adapt and catch the next wave of social media.

How selling online can help boost your sales

Embracing digital for the first time – tips for businesses

How to get your business plan investor-ready

Karen McCallion InterTradeIreland

Meet one of the #inspirational women that work in InterTradeIreland

Henry Joseph-Grant’s six rules of scaling success

Ten tips to help small businesses export to success

Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition

Although the UK/Ireland relationships post-Brexit are currently unknown, businesses should be proactive. Continued innovation is vital for firms to stand out

InterTradeIreland set to mark 20 years of assisting small firms to explore cross-border business on the island of Ireland

Professor Wim Vanhaverbeke examines how small companies are embracing the global trend towards Open Innovation

Innovation is key for your business - how InterTradeIreland's FUSION programme can help

We can help you with your H2020 proposal

If you're a graduate, this might help you find a job.

case study featuring Delany performance feeds and how they are preparing for brexit

open innovation can help your business thrive

Innovation expert Professor John Bessant delivered a Lecture & Masterclass on "The Innovation Imperative" addressing the fundamentals of innovation.

SME looking for investment - opportunities are stronger now than ever

Growth can be painful but there are ways to plan to scale

Why SMEs should tender for public sector contracts

If you can't segment your customers, you can't be customer centric

I always start an executive workshop the same way. I ask the execs in the room to raise their hand if they think “innovation” in their business has significant

An overview of Social Media Marketing and building Customer Relationships for SMEs

So, who knows what will happen after Brexit? Answer - nobody. Where there is uncertainty people will fill the fact vacuum with opinions and views of such wide d

Its still not too late to get ready for Brexit. There are numerous supports and services available to SMEs right across the island.

By collaborating with other innovative companies, maybe in your supply chain or locality, you can share ideas, costs and much more...

A review of a Meet the Buyer event on 13 June 2018

If you want more help with sales, know that you are not alone. Close to 10% of businesses consider it a weak spot.

innovation can occur in any part of a business and ensuring that, as a company, you’re open to identifying opportunities for change and continual development.

Since the Horizon 2020 programme commenced in 2014 the track record of North South collaborative applications has been impressive.

Every business needs a road map of some sort – usually written down in a business plan. Does your plan attract an investor’s attention?

As part of its “Succeed in Raising Finance” initiative InterTradeIreland guides and supports several hundred High Growth Potential Start-Up and Early Stage...

The short answer to the question of whether we are close to arriving at destination Brexit is no. If Brexit was a race, it’d be a marathon.

One of the most notable corporate crises of 2017 was when airport police forcibly removed a passenger from a United Airlines plane after the traveller...

In this blog, Karen McCallion in her role as Science Technology and innovation Manager outlines InterTradeIreland’s participation in and support of a number...

My route into InterTradeIreland consultancy started with storytelling. My background is broadcast journalism in BBC. I spent 16 years in newsrooms where the...

David McComb, one of InterTradeIreland’s Trade consultants, takes us through the importance of people in our business, the value of a talent pipeline and...

PR isn’t just for big, global firms; it’s for everyone, from micro-companies to international organisations: though, of course, budgets won’t be quite the same.

In this month's blog, Aidan Gough Director of Strategy & Policy outlines the importance of helping SMEs to be Brexit ready.

Businesses that are innovating and doing things differently are three times more likely to grow, says Alan Morrow, Innovation Manager at InterTradeIreland.

Every business has repetitive tasks and while some are just facts of life, be assured that others can definitely be fully or at least semi-automated.

Connor Sweeney takes us through the essential tips to perfect your pitch - from preparing well, researching your audience and remembering that in every...

The Prime Minister and the Taoiseach had some reassuring words on cross-border trade for Irish businesses following their talks on Brexit in Dublin.

When you start a new job your colleagues and boss quickly set you right on “how things are done around here” and the “boundaries” within which you need to work.

As we all know, Christmas can be a time of unlimited patience, generosity, and kindness from those around us, however, if you’re in business you've probably...

Last month I hosted our 10th Annual WMB Conference & Awards in the salubrious surrounds of the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin’s leafy Stephen’s Green.

The UK’s decision to leave the EU caught a large majority of businesses offside. Whilst uncertainty abounds, there are ways for businesses to navigate the...

Dwayne Stewart discusses why marketing can be done on a shoestring budget and why SMEs don’t have to spend a fortune on Communications activity to get their...

InterTradeIreland has just published a unique all island report into the Business Angel investor market- “Funding for growth: The Business Angels Market on...

Small businesses across the island were adversely affected by the financial crisis of 2008 as the availability of finance contracted and domestic demand shrank.

Alan Morrow, Operations Manager at InterTradeIreland discusses why technology or knowledge transfer between academia and industry has never been more relevant.

The all-island public procurement market worth £10million/€12.5million represents a huge opportunity for SMEs to win steady business and is a market worth...

Business plans are dead — or are they? For many entrepreneurs, the business plan is an outmoded document and Start Ups rarely think they need one to get by.

'A British exit from Europe could mean rowing back on a lot of the positive work and progress that has been achieved over the past number of years on...

One of the biggest challenges currently facing small business owners is dealing with the decrease in demand in their home market.