Boosting Productivity and Competitiveness in Microfirms: An Assessment of the All-Island Enterprise Support Ecosystem

InterTradeIreland wishes to appoint a suitably qualified service provider to deliver an independent strategic research project on supports for microfirms (businesses with fewer than 10 employees) across the island of Ireland. Microfirms dominate the business base in Northern Ireland and Ireland, and even modest improvements in their productivity would result in significant economy-level productivity gains. However, many face unique challenges that limit their ability to build capability, scale, and reach new markets. This research will identify the key barriers preventing microbusinesses in both jurisdictions from scaling and exporting, assess how effectively current supports meet microfirms' needs, and identify gaps and opportunities for improvement. The final report will give InterTradeIreland a clear evidence base and practical, implementable recommendations to support the development of more effective, coordinated, and consistent approaches to microfirm support across the island.

Clarification questions and tender submissions should be sent to tenders@intertradeireland.com

• The deadline for clarification questions is 3pm on Friday, 13^th November 2026
• The deadline for tender submissions is 3pm on Friday, 27^th November 2026