Pillars of Growth

The Business Pillars – What are they?

Enterprise Ireland has developed a process of how we work with our clients across their different stages of development. This is modeled on a structured framework which we work with clients so that we can come up with an agreed plan of action with the company. The 6 Business Pillars are explained in more detail below.

Business Pillars – Content Introduction

Open Access Business Content

Below is a sample of the content available across each of the six business pillars. This content is the introduction level for each of the subject areas. Click on your pillar of choice below to see the wider content available across the Business Pillars.

Finance – Basic Financial Capability

Basic Financial Capability

Infograph

5 min

Basic Financial Capability: the first element of the Finance Framework.

Why the need for Finance?

Video

1 min

Basic Financial Capability: Gráinne Conroy, Senior Financial Adviser with Enterprise Ireland outlines the need and importance of the finance function for companies. #financial awareness #startup

Six elements that make an excellent finance function

Article

4 min

Basic Financial Capability: Read Jim Cahill of AccountsPLUS on the key elements that come together to create an excellent finance function.

Financial Awareness

Video

2 min

Basic Financial Capability: Kieran Moloney of Aran Biomedical outlines the need for companies to demonstrate financial awareness. #financialawareness #financialperformance

Compliance Reporting

Article

2 min

Basic Financial Capability: systems that you must have in place to keep business legally trading by Moira Creedon of Artemis Consulting.

People & Management – Clarity of Direction

Clarity of Direction

Infograph

5 min

Clarity of Direction: the first element of People and Management Framework.

Understanding the Framework – Clarity of Direction

Video

1 min

Understanding the 3C Framework - Clarity of Direction #ClarityOfDirection

Getting it right. The top three culture considerations

Video

3 min

Clarity of Direction: The characteristics of getting culture right by Professor Charles O'Reilly. #culture #ClarityOfDirection

Bringing People Along

Video

6 min

Clarity of Direction: Irish SMEs talk about communication and strategy within their businesses. #culture #ClarityOfDirection #communication #strategy

Ergo Podcast

Podcast

40 min

John Purdy discusses the Ergo Business Model.

Sales & Marketing – Continuous Intelligence Gathering

Continuous Intelligence Gathering

Infograph

5 min

Continuous Intelligence Gathering: the first element of Sales & Marketing Capability Framework - an infographic explainer.

10 guaranteed ways to build industry expertise to target a specific sector

Article

4 min

Continuous Intelligence Gathering: a few pointers on branding your business on the basis of industry expertise by Jaci Burns.

Small but Smart

Article

5 min

Corrine Sandler says that with the correct use of actionable market information, the ‘little guys’ can win in today’s David-and-Goliath business world.

Market Intelligence – An Overview (Ep01)

Podcast

25 min

In this first episode Colette Quinn (Real Insights) and Roisin Bell (Knowledge Works) join Paul Browne of Enterprise Ireland to give you an overview of market intelligence. The second episode is also available on eiLearn outlining how you undertake Market Intelligence.

Market Intelligence – How to do Market Research (Ep02)

Podcast

25 min

In this second episode Colette Quinn (Real Insights) and Roisin Bell (Knowledge Works) join Paul Browne of Enterprise Ireland to outline how you undertake market intelligence. The first episode is also available on eiLearn as an overview of Market Intelligence.

Who are your ideal customers?

Article

5 min

Ideal-acceptable-avoid: in search for your ideal customers by Bob Apollo.

Innovation – Strategic Intelligence

Strategic Intelligence

Infograph

5 min

Strategic Intelligence: the second element of Innovation Framework - infographic explainer.

Understanding Customer Needs

Video

Strategic Intelligence: Irish SMEs talk about understanding customer needs. #analysis #StrategicIntelligence #strategy

Global trends that are impacting the future of business

Video

5 min

Strategic Intelligence: Russell Beck lists urbanisation, technology, demography, climate change, globalisation and politics as global trends impacting the future of business. #global #trends

Whiskey can teach us a thing or two about Innovation

Article

4 min

Chuck Swoboda explains why innovation can’t and shouldn’t be stopped even in traditional sectors like whiskey distillers.

Operations – Green

Green

Infograph

5 min

Green thinking as an essential element of your company's Operations - an infographic explainer.

Greenplus case study of Danone Wexford – the world’s first carbon neutral infant formula plant

Article

7 min

Case study of the 'Green Plus' programme that helped Danone Wexford to become world’s first carbon neutral infant formula plant.

Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy

Video

1 min

Ireland’s new #WasteActionPlan sets out a roadmap for a zero waste future. Find out more at gov.ie/circulareconomy

How waste reuse can save on cost and emissions

Infograph

7 min

EPA infographic on waste reduction in construction shows how waste reuse can save on cost and emissions.

Structured Energy Management System

Article

6 min

Green Plus case study of The Sustainable Energy Achievement Award 2018 winner - Carbery

Strategy – Ambition

Ambition

Infograph

5 min

Ambition: the first element of the Strategy Framework.

Culture and Strategy

Video

3 min

Ambition: Professor Charles O'Reilly discusses the nature of culture and strategy in companies.

Business Model Canvas for startups

Video

3 min

Ambition: Emer O'Donnell, Founders Forum Manager, talks about business model canvas.

Making Strategy Central

Video

3 min

Ambition: Dan Barry of Enterprise Ireland, talks about the importance of Strategy.

Business Pillars

As mentioned above, we employ a process of how Enterprise Ireland works with clients across their different stages of development. This is modeled on a structured framework which we work with clients so that we can come up with an agreed plan of action with the company. To access more detailed content for each of the pillars, please select the area of your choice below to access the wider content for that topic.

FINANCE

PEOPLE & MANAGEMENT

SALES & MARKETING

STRATEGY

INNOVATION

OPERATIONS

A Sample of Our Programmes

Below is a sample of our Programme offering across the business pillars, please click on the ‘all programmes’ button below to access our full strategic and short programme offering.