SOME 60 per cent of
small firms in border counties including Co Donegal
are optimistic about the year ahead.
And one-in-eleven of them plan to open a new
premises this year, a new study shows.
The study of over 600 SMEs across the Republic of
Ireland by Amarach Research on behalf of cloud
telecoms provider Magnet, however, revealed that
companies of five staff and under are less confident
while all feel the Government is not doing enough
for them.
Some 30 per cent of firms in border counties do not
know who their local public representatives are, and
only 12 per cent are aware of the technology and
business grants available that are worth up to
€5,000.
The manufacturing sector is most positive in its
outlook for the year ahead, with SMEs in hotels,
restaurants and bars the most negative.
“Businesses are proving very resilient in the face
of the high operating costs and financing issues
they are facing,” said Magnet CEO Mark Kellett.
“While the upswing is seeping through to all
businesses, it’s clear that the smaller ones are
most vulnerable and in need of support.”
Just 9 per cent of small businesses in Donegal and
surrounding counties feel the Government is doing
enough to help them. However, firms were generally
positive about Budget 2015 (55 per cent), the
figures also show.
Magnet said the planned roll-out of the national
broadband scheme is "critical so that all Irish SMEs
can avail of the supports such as the online trading
voucher". |
