Indigenous Enterprise, SMEs and Entrepreneurship Division

The overall goal of the Indigenous Enterprise, SMEs and Entrepreneurship Division is to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that appropriate supports are in place to promote and develop entrepreneurship, to help businesses to start, scale and export, to prepare for Brexit and to work with stakeholders across the wider system to ensure a supportive business environment (for example, tax policy, skills availability etc.)

The Division operates a suite of policies and supports designed to assist and facilitate businesses at all stages of development and growth, from nascent and early stage entrepreneurs to companies of scale trading internationally.

This includes direct interventions such as the provision of Microfinance and Loan Guarantees, as well as working with the Division’s Agencies, Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices and the National Standards Authority of Ireland together with support for the Design and Crafts Council to ensure their supports are relevant and aligned to the evolving needs of business.

Assistant Secretary: Declan Hughes

Tel: +353 1 631 2869
Email: declan.hughes@enterprise.gov.ie

Assistant Secretary’s Personal Assistant: Sarah Smithers

Tel: + 353 1  631 2156
Email: sarah.smithers@enterprise.gov.ie

Units of Indigenous Enterprise, SMEs and Entrepreneurship Division

• Entrepreneurship and Small Business Policy Unit
• Enterprise Agencies and Programmes Unit
• Finance for Growth and State Aids Unit
• Regional Enterprise Plans and Enterprise Initiatives Unit
• Retail and Sector Transformation Policy Unit
• National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) Liaison Unit

Main contact points