Intertradeireland Annual Report and Accounts 2010
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2010 Annual Review of Activities and Annual Accounts intertradeireland.com Joint Ministerial Foreword 4 Chairman’s Introduction 6 Chief Executive’s Message 8 Strategic Performance Summary 12 Corporate Plan 2008-2010 12 2010 Business Plan 14 Board Members 18 Organisation and Staffng Profle 26 Strategy and Key Performance Indicators 32 Business Plan Performance Report 36 Targets and Performance 36 Programme Area Report 37 Audited Accounts 48 “We commend InterTradeIreland for its success in providing initiatives that promote venture capital investment and innovation, allowing businesses to Richard Bruton TD Arlene Foster MLA MINISTER FOR JOBS, MINISTER FOR ENTERPRISE compete both locally and in the global ENTERPRISE AND TRADE AND INVESTMENT INNOVATION market-place.” Joint Ministerial Foreword It gives us great pleasure to present 2010 reached its highest level since the body Any sector related to the construction industry With the help of InterTradeIreland, in partnership InterTradeIreland’s Annual Report for 2010. was established over ten years ago. For every has been severely impacted and we as with Invest NI, Enterprise Ireland and other £1 invested in the organisation, it delivered an ministers understand that these are areas that agencies, businesses which wish to expand The organisation continues to focus on eleven-fold return in business development continue to require our attention. their horizons have had access to resources encouraging innovation activity as a key driver value during the period. The practical advice and support specifically designed to meet their of competitiveness and economic growth. and direct support given to businesses through The Business Monitor did show some positive needs and we would once again encourage By supporting an open system of innovation the range of trade and innovation initiatives signs in the last year with trade from Ireland to companies to explore the opportunities open whereby companies can interact and cooperate provided by the organisation have enabled Northern Ireland increasing by 4.81 per cent, to them. We commend InterTradeIreland for with each other and with the external business this impressive return and helped to offset from €0.997bn in 2009 to €1.045bn in 2010- its success in providing initiatives that promote environment, InterTradeIreland offers SMEs the challenges to businesses, many of which were the first increase since 2006-2007. Exports venture capital investment and innovation, potential to source and connect with a wider highlighted in InterTradeIreland’s quarterly from Ireland as a whole to GB were up by 2.4 allowing businesses to compete both locally variety of expertise across Northern Ireland Business Monitor survey. per cent, driven by rises in sectors dominated and in the global market-place. and Ireland, also serving as a platform for by Foreign Direct Investment. cooperation within the EU and beyond. The Business Monitor indicated that the financial Our appreciation goes to the organisation’s burden on SMEs during this time of recession Whilst overall cross-border sales from Northern dedicated staff under the leadership of the Chief In the current climate, the work undertaken has been compounded by issues such as rising Ireland to Ireland declined by 6.3 per cent Executive and the guidance of the Chairman by InterTradeIreland is more important than overheads (specifically high energy costs) and during this period, the Irish market remains and Board members. We would like to express ever and in 2010 its success in supporting a continued lack of access to finance. Whilst extremely important for small businesses in our continued support to everyone involved in SMEs to promote North/South trade and there were some tentative signs of a return to Northern Ireland, accounting for nearly three InterTradeIreland and wish them well for the business development opportunities has been growth, the final Monitor of 2010 showed that quarters of the sector’s exports. The Food coming year. demonstrable. 90 per cent of businesses surveyed felt the and Drink Industry remains dominant, with an economic downturn was having an adverse increase in exports in this area of 25 per cent In spite of the sustained economic challenges effect on their business, with almost one third over the year. faced by both economies on the island, reporting that they had not been able to remain InterTradeIreland’s return on investment in profitable in the past 12 months. Back to Contents 4 5 “As we move into 2011, key objectives for InterTradeIreland will be to build on our existing suite of programmes and supports to help even more businesses.” Dr David Dobbin CBE CHAIRMAN Chairman’s Introduction During 2010, InterTradeIreland continued to In 2010, the previous challenges of availability To that end, we felt that it was important to business needs, we began the development of deliver real value to SMEs in helping them to of finance and declining demand were showcase the success stories of these SMEs new small business sales programme which will identify and develop new export customers, compounded by the rising costs of doing that are embracing innovation, developing be launched next year. increase sales, diversify and improve their business. InterTradeIreland’s quarterly business new markets and raising venture capital to competitiveness through innovation. Demand monitor survey of 1,000 owner-managers in help drive economic growth. We launched As we move into 2011, key objectives for for our supports and services has never been Northern Ireland and Ireland revealed that global our ‘InterTradeIreland Business Ambassador InterTradeIreland will be to build on our existing greater and InterTradeIreland has embraced the cost pressures are making a difficult trading initiative’ in Northern Ireland in 2010 and suite of programmes and supports to help even challenge of ‘doing more with less’ supporting environment even tougher. Half of businesses nominated 35 Business Ambassadors from more businesses. There will be a particular focus SMEs to generate £83.3m/€93.6m of new trade reported increases in supplier costs compared throughout the region, recognising them at on supporting small firms and building innovative and business development value in 2010. with the previous year with rising energy costs an event in Stormont attended by MLAs and capabilities in SMEs. the largest concern for business. Ministers from the Assembly. Despite the significant and sustained economic As an organisation, our challenge for the challenges faced by both economies on Innovation to improve competitiveness has Through promoting the results that can be year ahead will be to get maximum leverage the island – I am pleased to report that become more than an option for businesses achieved through our North-South trade from our limited resources, identify efficiency InterTradeIreland’s return on investment in – it is now an economic imperative. Demand and innovation programmes, we hope to savings through innovations in service delivery, 2010 reached its highest level since the body for InterTradeIreland’s range of innovation inspire other companies to seek support from maximising value for money in terms of was established. For every £1 invested in the programmes and supports was higher than ever InterTradeIreland to help take their business to economic outcomes while continuing to increase organisation, it delivered an eleven-fold return in in 2010 and we introduced a number of new next level. The Business Ambassador initiative our business outreach. business development value during the period. successful initiatives during the year including will be launched in Ireland during 2011. the innovation and research connections I want to thank our Board, Executive Team These results were achieved by providing programmes. Undoubtedly smaller firms focussed on their and staff for their considerable enthusiasm and practical advice and direct support to local market have been hardest hit by the commitment during the year which, together businesses through our range of trade and The story of 2010 was of a two-tiered recession, recession. Research amongst these firms with the leadership and support of both innovation initiatives. whereby export orientated, innovation led undertaken by InterTradeIreland in 2010, found Ministers and their departments – has delivered companies continued to significantly outperform that the area in which small firms need support unprecedented performance results in extremely companies focussed mainly on their domestic is in sales development. As a direct response to challenging trading conditions. market. Back to Contents 6 7 “During 2010, InterTradeIreland provided practical advice and support to 3,000 SMEs and delivered more than £83m/€93m in trade and business Liam Nellis CHIEF EXECUTIVE development value.” Chief Executive’s Message As my tenure as CEO of InterTradeIreland Our range of trade and innovation programmes One of our Innovation programmes, FUSION, The US-Ireland R&D partnership for which reached 10 years this year, I am delighted to continued to help businesses to increase which partners companies with a technology InterTradeIreland provides the secretariat, report that the organisation has responded to cross-border sales, develop new products and need with third level institutes and academics, aims to promote collaborative and innovative the challenge of supporting even more processes, and raise new equity finance. reported impressive results with value generated projects amongst