As revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal last week, Bord Bia has devised a new support programme for Irish companies in the wake of Brexit.
This week, Bord Bia opened applications for its marketing intensification programme (MIP), which aims to help Irish companies strengthen their position in the UK market in the wake of the British vote to leave the EU on 23 June.
This new €500,000 fund is in addition to the existing marketing assistance programme and step change programmes, both of which are also support schemes for food producers run by Bord Bia. The new rounds of these schemes will begin in early 2017.
Conditions
The MIP is aimed at Irish food and drink producers who operate with a turnover of between €1m and €30m and export at least 20% of their turnover to the UK.
According to Bord Bia, the selection process is competitive, with between 20 and 30 companies expected to be supported.
A range of activities by companies are eligible for funding under the programme, including but not limited to:
Application forms for the programme can be downloaded here and the closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 28 October 2016. Successful applicants will be notified in early November.