With SMEs reporting restricted access to finance and a shortage of skilled labour among their primary challenges, Gerry Byrne looks at the state agencies filling the gaps
Until a few years ago, one could be forgiven for thinking the odds were stacked against small companies when it came to state support for businesses.
Now one could equally be forgiven for thinking the odds have swung completely the other way, such is the range of government and local authority support for smaller enterprises.
Not only are there more grants, there is even an agency, Credit Review, to fight your corner if a bank refuses you a loan.
In fact, Credit Review is a good place to start a discussion of state aids for small enterprises, because the predicament of many of its clients mirrors the difficulties faced by most fledgling businesses.
Many loan applications are refused because micro-businessowners don’t fill out the paperwork properly or their accounts are not up to …