New initiative aimed at increasing productivity and skills in small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).
The Department for the Economy has launched the SME Productivity Booster programme, delivered in partnership with the six Further Education Colleges in Northern Ireland.
Four stages of the SME Productivity Booster
The scheme consists of four stages to help boost local businesses’ productivity.
Stage one | Health check
Each SME participating will undergo an initial eligibility check followed by a detailed productivity health check carried out by an experienced specialist from the college. This health check will examine the business’s productivity levels and/or sustainability, and the appetite to increase them.
Stage two | Training
Following the health check, SMEs may be referred to relevant training programs, such as leadership, management, and business improvement techniques, offered through Skills Focus, Skill Up, or other accredited courses.
This second phase of this stage provides up to 30 hours of tailored mentoring support across various topical areas.
Stage three | Productivity road map
The third stage includes the development of a productivity roadmap, outlining clear actions and SMART objectives, to help SMEs implement plans to enhance productivity levels within their businesses
Stage four | Evaluation and impact report
Six months after the intervention, the last stage assesses the programme’s impact on productivity and the effectiveness of the skills development in improving productivity levels.
Who is eligible?
SMEs that meet the following criteria are eligible to take part in the SME Productivity Booster
- less than 250 employees
- based in Northern Ireland
- any member of staff undertaking the training and support should be based in Northern Ireland
Read full details on the SME Productivity Booster.
First published 28 November 2024
