News Updates
MINISTER WELCOMES MFI REPORT
SFA MEMBERS IF YOUR BUSINESS HAS SOME NEWS TO SHARE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FEATURED IN THE NEXT EDITION OF BETTER BUSINESS, CONTACT GILLIAN O’KEEFE ON 01 6051664 OR INFO@SFA.IE
Pictured at the launch of this year’s Futurewize programme were Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Futurewize Brand Ambassador, with Khadidja Ouidah, aged 13, from Assumption Secondary School in Walkinstown
STEM
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys has welcomed the publication of Microfinance Ireland’s annual report and accounts for 2017. The annual report and accounts show that €22.6 million of loans have been approved under the Microenterprise Loan Fund since 2012, supporting 3,952 jobs in borrowing companies throughout Ireland. Minister Humphreys commented: “Since its launch in 2012, Microfinance Ireland has provided vital support for microenterprises throughout the country. Last year was a record year with lending activity and the number of jobs supported continuing to grow. Significantly, almost 80 per cent of Microfinance Ireland loan approvals go to microenterprises outside of Dublin, which is vital in supporting this Government’s target of creating 135,000 jobs outside of Dublin by 2020.”
BIG NEWS FOR SMALL BUSINESS
STEM Programme a Proven Success
Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI), a non-profit organisation focused on entrepreneurship education in primary and secondary schools, has announced plans to further scale its successful Futurewize programme up to the end of 2019. Originally launched in 2016, the classroom-based Futurewize programme is aimed at inspiring young Junior Cycle students to explore a new world of career possibilities that are opened up through the study of STEM-related subjects. An evaluation of the first phase of the Futurewize programme showed that 77 per cent of student participants are now interested in studying STEM-related subjects after school, while 99 percent of participating teachers would recommend it to colleagues. By the end of 2019, it is estimated that nearly 24,000 students will have completed the Futurewize programme in combination with the Smart Futures module, which is also promoted as a function of the collaboration between Science Foundation Ireland and JAI.
NOT TO BE MISSED! SFA ANNUAL LUNCH, NOVEMBER 16TH The SFA Annual Lunch is the highlight of the small business calendar. It is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution that small businesses make to the Irish economy and society. This year’s lunch will take place in the Mansion House in Dublin on Friday November 16th with the support of Bank of Ireland. Join over 500 guests, including small business owner-managers, politicians, senior Government officials and media for the biggest business lunch of the year for small business. This is also the perfect opportunity to bring together your invited guests, special customers, clients and valued employees to kick off the festive season. For more information and to book your table or individual place, visit www.sfa.ie/events.
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