Tourism NI has launched Phase 2 of its scheme to drive innovation, sustainability and competitiveness in tourism businesses. The Kick Start programme, which was first launched last year, has been extended into 2023 and will continue to provide free access to a range of advice and support.
Commenting on the launch of Phase 2, Tourism NI’s Head of Programmes Eimear Callaghan said;
“While the tourism industry is generally more upbeat than last year we are facing a new set of challenges for 2023. Consumers will be impacted by economic uncertainties while businesses are facing rising prices, increased fuel costs and skills challenges among other operating pressures”.
“Value for money and visitor experience will be even more important and we want to help to protect and support vulnerable tourism businesses to be there to meet the needs of our visitors next year and beyond”.
“Through Kick Start we will continue to partner with a range of business and financial experts to provide fully funded, bespoke support. Eligible businesses will receive a one to one diagnostic assessment with a Tourism NI allocated adviser, including an independent and confidential financial health check. Participants will then be supported to identify, develop and implement agreed business interventions recommended during the Kick Start programme.”
Kick Start covers four key areas:
- Business Model Restructuring – to allow tourism businesses to examine and review their existing business model to drive efficiencies and improvements in how the business operates
- Digital Innovation and Productivity – to enable tourism businesses to adopt new digital technology and innovations that can help them to operate more efficiently, enable or accelerate the development of new products, processes, or services and help to safeguard and create jobs
- Recruitment and Talent Development – to empower tourism businesses to devise and implement staff recruitment, talent development and staff training action plans.
- Environmental Sustainability – to support tourism businesses to consider and implement environmental management and sustainability initiatives that will enable them to reduce costs, improve productivity and deliver a competitive advantage.
The Kick Start programme is open to existing tourism business operating in Northern Ireland. Applicants from Phase 1 will be considered for support as well as new applicants from eligible businesses. The closing date for receipt of Expression of Interest forms is Monday 28th November 2022 at 3pm. For full guidelines, eligibility criteria and details on how to apply go to https://bit.ly/3ErqcNf
