Waterford businesses urged to contact national hub for support

Small to medium sized enterprises in Waterford are being encouraged to contact the National Enterprise Hub (NEH) to access key business supports this year. 

As they plan for the year ahead businesses are being advised to liaise with the hub to help them to navigate ongoing economic pressures, skills challenges and increasing requirements around sustainability and digital transformation.

With more than 7,000 businesses operating in Waterford, across a range of sectors, businesses in the region are facing continued pressure around costs, skills and competitiveness.

The National Enterprise Hub offers a single, practical route to identifying the Government supports available to help address those challenges.

Operated by Enterprise Ireland and funded by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the NEH provides a single point of access to more than 250 Government supports delivered by over 30 Departments and State Agencies.

Available online at www.neh.gov.ie, as well as through phone and live chat support, the Hub connects businesses directly with trained advisors who help identify the most relevant grants, funding options, loans and expert supports based on a company’s size, sector and stage of development. It plays a key role in helping SMEs identify and access grants, funding, loans, training and expert advice that align with their specific needs, sector and stage of development.

A spokesperson for the Hub said the service is particularly relevant to Waterford-based SMEs, start-ups and growing enterprises across a broad range of sectors.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD, said the Hub plays a key role in helping businesses make effective use of Government supports.

“Waterford is home to a diverse and resilient SME base and the National Enterprise Hub can play an important role in ensuring those businesses can access the supports they need to grow and adapt in 2026," he said.

"As Waterford businesses continue to adapt to changing economic conditions, it is vital that they are aware of and can easily access the full range of Government supports available to help enable job creation and long-term regional competitiveness," he added.

Minister Burke went on to comment: “The National Enterprise Hub helps businesses to save time, cut through complexity and identify practical supports that can help them remain competitive and plan for the future.” 

Donal Leahy, Head of Regional Infrastructure and the National Enterprise Hub, Enterprise Ireland added: “Many SMEs in Waterford are busy running day-to-day operations and don’t always have the time to explore what supports might be available to them. The National Enterprise Hub is there to make that process simpler, by giving businesses a single point of contact and access to advisors who can quickly point them in the right direction."

“Whether it’s help with funding, skills, energy efficiency or planning next steps, our role is to provide practical guidance that Waterford businesses can act on in 2026 to help make their business as competitive as possible," he added.

The National Enterprise Hub works closely with a broad network of enterprise partners including Local Enterprise Offices, IDA Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Skillnet Ireland, Solas, Bord Bia, Microfinance Ireland, Revenue, Social Protection, SEAI, InterTradeIreland and the Western Development Commission, among others.

Waterford businesses can engage with the National Enterprise Hub via www.neh.gov.ie or by calling 01 7272100.