Enterprise Ireland’s new Part-time Key Manager grant aims to grow the number of women in senior positions

Today, Enterprise Ireland launched a new grant which will facilitate the recruitment of part-time senior managers in client companies. While the grant will be available for both women and men key managers, it is expected to attract more women into senior management roles.

The Part-Time Key Manager grant will cover up to 50% of eligible salary costs for a new senior manager who will play a significant strategic role in the future growth of the company and is intended to encourage businesses to take positive steps to attract talent at a senior level.

Examples of key manager positions include Chief Financial Officer, Chief Technical Officer, R&D Manager and Production Manager.

The introduction of the grant is a key action in Enterprise Ireland’s recently published 2020 Action Plan for Women in Business which aims to improve diversity in the leadership of Irish SMEs. Increasing the number of women in senior management and leadership roles in Irish companies is one of the four key objectives detailed in the Women in Business action plan.

Commenting on the new Part-Time Key Manager grant, Sheelagh Daly, Entrepreneurship Manager, Enterprise Ireland said: “There is significant international research including McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, the IMF and the International Labour office among others, which clearly demonstrates that companies with gender diversity in decision making and leadership positions perform better – they are more profitable, more productive and deliver better returns on assets.

“Secondly, we know that people who have senior management experience are more likely to see an opportunity for an innovative new enterprise, and are more likely to have the confidence and capability to do something about that opportunity, as well as having a network of connections to support the realisation of the opportunity, including better access to finance.

“Put simply, greater gender diversity in senior roles means better businesses and more entrepreneurs.”

The Part-Time Key Manager grant is open for applications from Enterprise Ireland supported companies – more details here.

The Enterprise Ireland 2020 Action Plan for Women and Business is available here.