Funding and programme information

Acumen

Our sales and marketing programme, Acumen, can offer your business various support and funding options depending on your business needs.

Employ a salesperson

Funding of up to £15,000 (or euro equivalent) is available for you to employ a sales person that is based in your target market and responsible for increasing sales in that region – North or South. Typically they will be an experienced salesperson, knowledgeable in your industry but you are free to recruit the best person for the job and we will fund up to 50% of £30,000 salary costs in the first year.

Hire a part-time salesperson

If you want to explore the sales potential in your export market, a part-time salesperson may be the best solution for your business – allowing you to scope the market opportunity, start small and limit your risk. We can offer you financial support of up to £8,000 (or euro equivalent) to hire a prospector who can represent your company in your target market.

Market research

Acumen can provide your company with consultancy support to either - plan and implement a cross-border market entry strategy, review your sales plan to grow your existing cross-border sales, develop a cross-border joint venture or strategic alliance. Financial support of up to £4,000 (or euro equivalent) is available.

Employ a graduate

Our graduate business programme can help your business increase its awareness, understanding and capability to trade on a cross-border basis by assessing the market potential and developing a strategic marketing/sales approach. A funding package of up to €23,440 is available. We will fund up to 50% of the cost of employing a graduate to undertake a 12 month project. We are now taking applications for the graduate scheme so whether you are a company or a graduate register your interest here now!

DVD

Why not take time to view our DVD which showcases some of the companies that have benefitted from Acumen support.

Benefits

Through our Acumen programme, we have provided assistance to more than 300 companies across the island helping them to generate over €58m/£50m worth of sales.

Typical benefits as a result of the programme include:

• Access to new markets and increased cross-border sales
• Better knowledge of the cross-border market
• New business opportunities identified
• Improvements to your sales and marketing strategy
• Increased business contacts and prospects across the island