Two Fingal-based I.T. companies are first “LEO” clients to progress into Enterprise Ireland
Two Fingal IT companies, Critical Data Services and Nutritics, are the first micro-enterprises supported by the new Local Enterprise Offices to transition successfully into Enterprise Ireland’s Potential Exporters Division.
Critical Data Services in Blanchardstown is Ireland's only dedicated data recovery company and Nutritics in Portmarnock provide nutrition analysis and reporting software.
A key element of the Government’s ‘Action Plan for Jobs’, the Local Enterprise Office (LEO), is the ‘first stop shop’ for all start-ups and businesses seeking supports from state agencies and signalled the start of a new era in enterprise support.
Critical Data Services, founded in 2004 by brothers Ciaran and Ronan Kennedy, provides data recovery and electronic discovery support services. Its new target markets include the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf region, each of which will be serviced from the company’s headquarters in Blanchardstown
With the help of the Fingal Local Enterprise Office, the company invested in a 2,800 square foot facility with specialist technology and laboratory facilities. Critical Data Services is forecast to grow by 40% in 2014 and will progress from being a Local Enterprise Office client to Enterprise Ireland over the next couple of weeks.
Welcoming the news, Oisin Geoghegan, Head of the Fingal Local Enterprise Office, said: “Critical Data Services and Nutritics are among the first companies in the country to transition from Local Enterprise Offices to Enterprise Ireland, which marks an important milestone in enterprise support. By exploring their export potential, small companies can open up new markets and business opportunities.”
Nutritics, also run by two brothers (Damian and Ciaran O’ Kelly), was set up to provide dietary assessment, recipe analysis and meal planning software. Boasting the largest proprietary food database, specific to the UK and Ireland, the brothers have recently expanded into the UK, with the help of the Fingal Local Enterprise Office.
Geoghegan also confirmed that a new ‘First Time Exporter’ grant will be made available through the Fingal Local Enterprise Office to eligible businesses, which have achieved sales in the domestic market and who plan to develop overseas markets.
He said: “The Export Marketing Grant is aimed at businesses that are seeking to develop overseas markets. This is a new development fund for small businesses based in Fingal who now wish to expand overseas. We want to help our small businesses to build export sales so they can create jobs at home.”
The grant can be used to part-fund the cost of market research, exhibiting at trade fairs, the creation of marketing material specifically for overseas markets, and eligible third party costs. Further information about the Export Grant Scheme is available at www.localenterprise.ie/Fingal.
Fingal Local Enterprise Office is part of a network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) nationwide and is funded by the Irish Government and the European Regional Development Fund.
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NOTES TO EDITOR
Fingal Local Enterprise Office:
Fingal Local Enterprise Office is part of a network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) nationwide and is funded by the Irish Government and the European Regional Development Fund.
The role of the LEO is to support and provide assistance to existing and potential small business promoters located in Fingal, North County Dublin. In addition, LEO Fingal aims to foster the development of an enterprise culture.
The activities of the Fingal County Enterprise Board were taken over by the Fingal Local Enterprise Office in April 2014, which is based in County Hall in Swords. Oisin Geoghegan, former CEO of the Fingal County Enterprise Board, is now the new Head of the Fingal Local Enterprise Office (www.localenterprise.ie/Fingal).
Fingal Local Enterprise Office is funded by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the European Commission.
Export and Marketing Grant: Application Criteria
Qualifying applicants are privately-owned businesses which meet with all of the following criteria: micro-enterprises (i.e. businesses with up to 10 employees); Fingal-based indigenous businesses; manufacturing and internationally trading businesses or businesses that can demonstrate potential to develop into internationally trading businesses; businesses that demonstrate that they have a clear Exporting strategy in place and are equipped to implement their strategy.