17th September 2015
Pilot scheme to encourage small enterprises to use strategic design launched as part of Irish Design 2015
#design4growth
Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash TD and an tArdmhéara Críona Ní Dhálaigh, today announced a pilot scheme Design 4 Growth, to encourage small enterprises to use strategic design to improve their businesses. The Scheme is part of Irish Design 2015 (ID2015), the year-long initiative backed by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, aimed at promoting and celebrating Irish design in Ireland and internationally.
The Design 4 Growth pilot scheme is being delivered by Dublin City Local Enterprise Office (LEO) on behalf of the four LEO offices and PIVOT Dublin, Dublin City Council. Founder of the Irish Centre for Design Innovation, Toby Scott, has been appointed as the Senior Design Strategist for the pilot scheme. He will work with a panel of design strategists who in turn will help the companies involved, in identifying ways in which design can improve their business.
Through Design 4 Growth, 50 businesses will have the opportunity to attend an introductory workshop aimed at providing an understanding of design strategy in business development. Following the workshop, fifteen of these companies will then be selected to work with a design advisor on a part funded basis to develop a design strategy, specifically tailored to improving their business. Five businesses will then be chosen to implement the design strategy.
Dublin City Local Enterprise Office Design 4 Growth webpage
Minister Nash said, “Encouraging Irish businesses to invest in design as a key component of innovation and competitiveness is central to the objectives of the Irish Design 2015 programme. The Design 4 Growth pilot scheme will assist participating companies in identifying practical ways in which good design can enhance their product or service, maximising opportunities for success in today’s competitive market place and ultimately creating additional jobs here in Ireland. As an outcome of this pilot scheme, we look forward to increasing the number of micro and small Irish companies who use design as a strategic element in their business development.”
Ardmhéara Críona Ní Dhálaigh said, “Experience has shown that integrating design as part of a company’s strategy can assist in creating greater demand for products and services. Design 4 Growth will give businesses the opportunity to have access to experienced design strategists and will assist them with their marketing strategy, which will be an invaluable asset to their future growth. Go n-éirí go geal leo leis an bhfiontar nua seo.”
The Design 4 Growth pilot scheme is one of a number of enterprise development initiatives announced this year as part of ID2015. The year-long programme, which emerged from the Global Irish Economic Forum in 2013, aims to promote Irish design capability nationally and internationally and to encourage small and medium Irish companies to use design as their critical competitive advantage.
Karen Hennessy, Chief Executive of ID2015 says that encouraging small Irish enterprises to be design-focused across all areas of their business is vital. “We are delighted to be working with Dublin City Council and the Local Enterprise Office network on introducing this pilot scheme to support emerging companies in growing and expanding their business. The programme reflects the commitment of each partner organisation in helping design-focused enterprises to become our future exporters, contributing to Ireland’s reputation abroad as a source of innovative products and services,” said Ms Hennessy.
ID2015 is being convened by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI), in collaboration with partner organisations, on behalf of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Enterprise Ireland.
ENDS
For further information contact:
Greg Swift, Head of Local Enterprise, Dublin City LEO Office at T: 087 2334647
Dublin City Council Media Relations Office at T: 087 740 0277/ 01 2222170
Notes to the Editor:
The Design 4 Growth pilot scheme is an outcome of the PIVOT Dublin Hidden Rooms programme 2014. Design 4 Growth was devised in response to challenges identified by the LEO Dublin City office with respect to incentivising micro-businesses to engage with designers. It aims to assist participating companies in applying the effective use of design in developing their businesses. The pilot scheme is being delivered by Dublin City LEO office on behalf of the four Dublin LEO offices and is being funded by the Department of Jobs, Entprise and Innovation through Irish Design 2015.
Stages in the Design 4 Growth pilot scheme:
Stage 1: Businesses can attend a briefing workshop aimed at providing businesses with an understanding of design strategy in business development. Client fee: €10.
Stage 2: Up to 15 businesses can avail of a review by a Design Strategist with feedback and recommendations on ways in which design strategy could assist with their development. Client fee: €100.
Stage 3: 5 businesses can work with a Design Strategist to develop a brief for implementing the recommended approach and commissioning the necessary design services. Client fee: €500.
Stage 4: The 5 businesses can apply for design vouchers to a maximum value of €2,500 for design services to implement the brief developed in Stage 3 and receive ongoing advice during this stage from the Design Strategist. This will be on a match-funded basis (i.e. giving an implementation budget of €5,000). Client fee: Up to €2,500 (50% match funding).
About Irish Design 2015
Irish Design 2015 (ID2015) emerged as an idea from the Global Irish Economic Forum in 2013 which the government supported. The initiative, which has been included in the Government’s 2015 Action Plan for Jobs, aims to:
- Create 1800 jobs over three years through sales of design-led products and services
- Generate an additional €10m in design-based exports
- Generate 200 new design-led business start-ups
- Facilitate more than 300 companies in international trade missions and design based trade events
- Engage with an audience of over 3 million at home and abroad
Through a year-long programme of events and activities exploring, promoting and celebrating Irish design both in Ireland and internationally, Irish Design 2015 (ID2015) aims to showcase the very best of Irish design in order to drive job creation, grow exports and increase competitiveness. ID2015 is an island of Ireland initiative engaging the public, the design community and businesses and is promoting Irish design in just about every form.
ID2015 is being convened by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI), in collaboration with partner organisations, on behalf of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Enterprise Ireland. ID2015 partners include Founding Partners - MCO Projects; Accommodation Partners - The Doyle Collection; Venue Partners - OPW; Exhibition Partners – DAA; Transport Partners – Bus Éireann Expressway, Construction Partners – SISK, Technology Partners - IBM and Broadcast Partners - RTÉ. www.irishdesign2015.ie
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