Partners & Programmes
In order to better support the needs of small businesses in Ireland, we work hand-in-hand with a number of other key programmes and business support agencies.
- Local Enterprise Offices
- Microfinance Ireland works very closely with the Local Enterprise Offices to promote enterprise, development, creation and sustainment of jobs.
There are 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) across the country that provide advice, information and support for people interested in starting up a new business or already in business. This includes entrepreneurs, early stage promoters, start ups and small business looking to expand.
LEOs can provide loan applicants with considerable support and guidance to prepare their Microfinance Ireland loan application. They also provide ongoing support for approved loan applicants through the provision of mentoring.
Check out www.localenterprise.ie for the full list of services and supports.
- Social Finance Foundation
- Microfinance Ireland is a subsidiary of the Social Finance Foundation.
Social Finance Foundation (SFF) is a not-for-profit organisation established to act as a wholesale supplier of funding for social finance. Social finance is about the availability of loan finance at affordable interest rates; primarily to projects which generate a social benefit and often experience difficulties in accessing loans from mainstream lending institutions.
- Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland
- Microfinance Ireland has been supported with funding from the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland.
The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) was set up in September 2014 to ensure that Irish SMEs have access to stable, lower cost and long-term funding options. Since it commenced operation in 2015, the SBCI has built out its range of supports from providing low-cost liquidity to delivering risk-sharing guarantee schemes. These supports have helped to create a more competitive SME finance market and have provided more choice of lender for SMEs.
See www.sbci.gov.ie for more information.
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Enterprise and Employment as part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs.
The mission of Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is to support the creation of jobs by promoting the development of a competitive business environment in which enterprises will operate to high standards and grow in sustainable markets. The department has committed itself to prioritising investment in science, technology and innovation and the development of the knowledge society.
- Bank Referrals Programme
Microfinance Ireland enjoys a referral relationship with the three main Business Banks in Ireland. These Banks can make loan referrals to Microfinance Ireland to provide funding to small businesses in instances where they are unable to do so.
- Local Development Companies
Microfinance Ireland also works closely with Local Development Companies (also known as Local Area Partnerships or LEADER Partnerships) which are another enterprise support organisation that work with individuals and communities to support enterprise development in their locality.
There are 48 Local Development Companies who can support you in developing a business idea into a trading business.