Our Partnerships

CEAI: Powered By Exceptional People Delivering Impactful Change

As a not-for-profit company, CEAI operates on lean budgets and limited funding. Despite this, we work hard to deliver continuous impact for our sector by aligning with expert partners to address areas of strategic importance for the sector and for Ireland.

Since 2019, with the amalgamation of the Association into a CLG, a range of strategic partnerships and initiatives [see below] have been delivered into the sector. Further information on any of these projects, next steps and future plans are available by contacting our project team.

10. 2025 CEAI Inaugural Enterprise & Small Business Barometer

The survey is accessible here ⬇️ (🎁🎁respondents are entered into a draw for a €250 one-4-all voucher🎁🎁) and take approx. 15 minutes to complete 🙏🏻

SURVEY LINK

Small businesses are vital to local economies, providing stable jobs and economic activity in towns and communities across Ireland. Ireland is home to an estimated 304,000 SMEs – employing more than 1.27 million people and contributing approximately €135.2 billion in GVA annually [standout statement].

The community enterprise sector across the South of Ireland is home to more than 3,500 businesses which employ over 18,500 full time individuals – allowing them to live locally and work locally. CEAI is currently working in tandem with Enterprise Northern Ireland to collect sentiment from enterprise and small business across the island of Ireland – gathering data which will provide clear and independent insight into how micro and SME business is performing in local communities across the country.

Participation in this survey will help CEAI inform policymakers, local authorities, and enterprise centres on current challenges and opportunities encountered by enterprise and small business. Information gathered will contribute to more targeted funding, training, and advisory programmes designed to strengthen small business growth and resilience. Your voice will help build the conditions to support the businesses of today and nurture the entrepreneurs of tomorrow and we encourage you to get involved.

9. The Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme

In 2025, CEAI commenced a body of work in consultation with key industry players to deliver an ambitious project under this funding scheme, aiming to accelerate economic growth across all regions, leveraging the strengths of the sector and building on emerging opportunities from across the regions. Further updates will follow.

8. The Economic Impact Assessment of the Enterprise Centre and Hub Sector in Ireland

In 2024, CEAI launched the first ever comprehensive economic impact assessment for the sector which highlighted the value of the enterprise centre and innovation hub sector in Ireland.

Following independent research (desk-based research along with one-to-one interviews and focus groups) and with additional third-party expert oversight, the research identified that the community enterprise sector is worth €1.8 billion each year to the Irish economy, and with more 18,600 full time employees in employment within tenant and client companies accommodated across the sector. With an estimated investment of more than €200 million in funding under national government, the sector has delivered over nine-fold return on this investment to date.

7. The CEAI Career and Competency Framework for the National Hub Network

In 2024, CEAI presented Minister Niall Collins TD, Minister of State Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science having responsibility for Skills and Further Education, with the first Career and Competency Framework for the National Hub Network.

The research, design and development of the Framework was led by workplace design and L&D experts and was grounded in an in-depth analysis of the current challenges and future needs of key personnel across Ireland’s National Hub Network.

The Framework sets out the necessary next steps to increase and validate recognition of the expertise which sits within the Network so as to maximise centres and hubs contributions to balanced regional economic development, rural regeneration and sustainable communities in line with government ambition.

The Framework was developed in partnership with M1 Drogheda Chamber Skillnet and in cooperation with Trainers’ Learning Skillnet with funding secured from Skillnet Ireland.

6. The CEAI Sustainable Hubs Programme

In 2023, CEAI – under the umbrella of the Training Links Programme – a national programme managed by The Wheel, funded by the National Training Fund (NTF) and overseen by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science – delivered the CEAI Sustainable Hubs Programme for the sector.

This programme was co-created with hub managers, facilitated by experts from the Environmental Research Institute at University College Cork and leading to a programme customised to meet the needs of community enterprise centre managers.

The programme focused on key action areas such as energy and water efficiency, biodiversity, waste management, plastic usage and transport. Participants were equipped with the knowledge and know-how to identify SDG priority areas for their individual centres/hubs, support was provided to develop centre/hub-specific SDG Charters and location-specific energy audits took place to assist with the implementation of practical measures.

5. The Champion Changemakers Programme: ARISE

In 2022, CEAI delivered a pilot hackathon-style programme to explore how best to approach community-driven social innovation initiatives facilitated by centres and hubs across the country. The programme benefited from financial assistance through the Awareness
Raising Initiative for Social Enterprises, provided for from the Dormant Accounts Fund, under the auspices of Pobal and the Department of Rural and Community Development.

By leveraging the expertise and connections of local centres/hub managers, the programme supported community changemakers to develop solutions to the challenges they had experienced within their own communities, giving national recognition and supports, to local innovation.

The overall winner, Shamrock Squad Adventures benefitted from a prize bursary to the value of €10,000 which set them on their journey towards the establishment of their sustainable and successful social enterprise.

4. The Public Sector Management Development Programme

In 2022, CEAI was sponsored by the Department of Rural and Community Development to deliver a targeted management development programme for public sector employees working across the community enterprise and hub sector.

Participants were drawn from state agencies, local authorities, local enterprise offices and higher education authorities with the aim of the programme to enhance the management mindset with a focus on delivering quality excellence in management practices across the
sector.

The delivery team worked with managers and key staff nationwide to improve the services of their centres and hubs across a range of areas with a focus on developing a Business Improvement Plan to drive future growth for the centre or hub.

3. The QHubs Quality and Innovation Management Programme

Between 2021 and 2024, CEAI led a team of quality expert practitioners with the enterprise centre and hub sector to design, develop and launch the QHubs Quality and Innovation Management Programme – a global first The development of the programme was announced in November 2021 by the QHubs National Steering Group, chaired Minister Damien English TD, Minister for State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The launch of the programme by Minister Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Enterprise took place at the National Hub Summit in
November 2023.

The QHubs Programme is the worlds’ only national standard for centres and hubs fostering a culture of continuous improvement, ongoing innovation and best-in-class leadership by enabling participating locations to set and achieve measurable performance across six key pillars including quality management, innovation management, environmental management, information technology and security, collaborative relationships and governance of organisations.

A blanket rollout of the programme remains subject to government funding and is under discussion.

2. The MentorsWork Programme

In 2021, CEAI announced a partnership with the MentorsWork Programme, a partnership which was devised with Skillnet Ireland and the Small Firms Association to prepare staff across the sector for the establishment and rollout of the QHubs Quality and Innovation Management programme in the coming years.

The programme was offered at no cost to participants and within the programme, the learner was engaged in a modular journey comprising of one-to-one mentoring, mandatory and opt-in webinars, master classes and workshops with access to an online learning platform curated with targeted content.

1. The Covid-19 National Impact and Recovery Plan

In May 2020, CEAI led out on a Covid-19 Impact and Recovery Survey to identify the issues facing enterprise centres/hubs across Ireland as a result of Covid-19. The research received the active co-operation of key stakeholders across the sector including community enterprise centres, enterprise hubs, sector-specific incubation hubs, privately owned co-working spaces and university incubators.

The survey results were presented to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in mid-2020 and paved the way for Enterprise Ireland €12 million Enterprise Centre Fund in August 2020 to support the sector adapt to the challenges presented during the pandemic years.