SFA launches new 3-year strategy: Small Business | Ireland’s Future 2025

The small business landscape has changed radically in the past 3 years and the SFA with the sole view of our members best interests has also pivoted to meet this challenge head on. Over the last number of months, we in the SFA have undertaken a rigorous programme to devise a new strategy that will drive the work of the SFA for the next number of years. On 23 June, we launched our new 3-year strategy: Small Business | Ireland’s Future 2025 is a robust and innovative strategic plan that will deliver this.

Small Business | Irelands Future 2025 is underpinned by 4 key strategic pillars: Connecting, Innovating, Representing & Influencing, and Growing. These pillars will be the bedrock of our work in the SFA, guiding and informing what we do to hold up small business as the cornerstone of the Irish Economy.

We enhanced our Mission and our Vision to ensure we continue to support you, but also stay close to the areas that matter most to you. We have pushed ourselves to be even more ambitious, helping you maximise the opportunities that will emerge over the next 3 years, but not forgetting the vital support you may need post pandemic.

It is our goal to use this new strategy to support small business owners to be leaders in areas such as Innovation, Sustainability (ESG) as well as connecting businesses to other businesses, harnessing their expertise, and helping them win new customers.  Continuing our role in lobbying for change will be even more important as the economy evolves, ensuring that there is a level playing field for small businesses in Ireland and that it is recognised that small businesses are excellent employers who create meaningful, well-paying sustainable jobs throughout the country.

As we look to the future, the needs of our members will always be at the forefront of all the work we undertake, and I am excited to embark on this new chapter to 2025.

Call to action

As part of our strategy, we are creating a number of new working groups that will give you the opportunity to have your voice heard, meet like-minded businesspeople and help us deliver on our ambitious work programme:

The SFA Lobbying and Influencing Working Group will work with us on our submissions and policy proposals such as our pre-Budget submissions, policy papers, and develop proposals for a SME Tax Roadmap.

The SFA Innovation Working Group will develop initiatives that will make innovation funding more available for small business and work on projects in the Green Economy and ESG space.

The SFA Growth Working Group will work on projects such as the next phase of MentorsWork and proposals for a dedicated SME State Agency.

It is envisaged that the working groups will meet (virtual or hybrid meetings) at least once a quarter and to sign up simply complete this short form. We would be delighted to have you involved.

You can find our new strategy document and the launch press release here.