Specialist Support Scheme
Objective
To provide assistance for small businesses where the need arises to exhibit at Trade Fairs or carry out Market Visits. Business Network Support will also be provided to business networks hosting business conferences / seminars to their members
Strategy
Kilkenny County Enterprise Board recognises that in order to offer a fully comprehensive range of supports to small business, provision must be made to cater for specialist and customised supports to meet client needs. In this regard, the County Enterprise Board will make available Trade Fair Assistance, Market Visit Support and Business Network Support as follows:
- Trade Fair Assistance - to enable small businesses to exhibit at trade fairs to market their goods and services. Businesses cannot avail of this assistance annually for the same even. The County Enterprise Board will provide assistance in this way in appropriate cases where Enterprise Ireland are unable to offer assistance. Minimum costs €1,000.
- Market Visits - to enable promoters to travel abroad specifically for the purpose of making contact with new customers and/or suppliers, in particular to source suppliers within the Euro zone. The County Enterprise Board will provide assistance in this way in appropriate cases where Enterprise Ireland are unable to offer assistance. Minimum costs €1,000.
- Business Network Support - The Board will consider support to business networks in hosting business conferences/seminars for their members. Minimum costs €1,000.
Qualifying Aid
The County Enterprise Board will provide the following rates of assistance:
- 50% of costs of attendance including associated air, sea or rail travel in respect of up to two people within the company on the basis of vouched receipts;
- €50.00 per overnight stay by means of contribution towards subsistence costs in respect of up to 2 people associated with the company, up to a maximum of 5 nights per person;
- Mileage at €0.26 per kilometer
Maximum assistance will not exceed a total of €1,000 per company. One company may only qualify for technical assistance once in any 12 month period.
Time Limit
A claim should be submitted within 30 days of attendance at a trade Fair or Market Visit. In relation to Business Network Support, a claim should be submitted within 30 days of the Conference/Seminar
Operation
The Specialist Support Scheme supersedes the Technical Assistance Scheme and is operational from 8th March 2010.