Request for the SME Innovation(Brexit)Programme 2020

Tender description

An Innovation Programme to support the Businesses of the North West counties of Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim The LEOs in the North West Region, led by LEO Sligo, now propose to deliver a SME Innovation Programme in 2020 which will be run in 3 locations in Counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal. This contract will be completed by Sligo County Council on behalf of LEOs Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim. The key objectives of the programme, to be delivered to at least 30 microbusinesses (i.e. businesses employing up to ten employees) in the manufacturing, internationally traded and potential to internationally trade sectors across Counties Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo, will be to: • establish what level participating businesses are at in the innovation spectrum; • engender or, where appropriate, enhance a culture and practice of innovation at all levels (owner-manager and staff) in eligible microbusinesses; • identify at least one innovation project specific to each participating business which will enable it to add further to its value proposition; • place a strong focus on how, as part of the innovation process, participating businesses would keep systems in place to take full and relevant account of their existing client needs, learn how to identify emerging/future needs of their clients and, to the greatest degree possible, how to set themselves up to stay ahead of their competitors in terms of service delivery; • embed in the culture of the business a determination to keep a strong and ongoing focus on innovation through people, products and processes; • include relevant real-life success stories in the innovation sphere as part of the delivery of the programme; • point and act as a catalyst for participants to access funding supports available to assist them implement innovative actions identified, and to report on this measure; • provide a report to the Local Enterprise Office on the experience of assisting the process of embedding innovation in micro enterprises, to include recommendations taking into account