Recognizing the essential role of SMEs in the economy and community, Ireland’s Minister of State Neale Richmond expressed strong government support for the Agile Connect initiative. SMEs are the backbone of our economy, employing 42% of the workforce, so it’s natural to foster SME growth through fractional leadership. It’s imperative that we support them with accessible leadership talent, Richmond noted. This governmental backing underscores the importance of Agile Connect’s mission to empower SMEs, ensuring they are not left behind in Ireland’s economic narrative. With the platform now live, the future seems brighter for US SMEs, ready to harness the power of leadership to scale new heights.
Imagine a world where the barrier to expert leadership is not the size of your enterprise but the ambition within it. This is the vision behind Agile Connect, a groundbreaking platform that promises to redefine the Irish business landscape by connecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with seasoned business leaders. At a time when the vitality of SMEs is more crucial than ever, the initiative could not be more timely or needed.
The Catalyst for Change
Recent findings by Chambers Ireland have shed light on a critical gap in the Irish SME sector: a staggering 85% of small firms report being hampered in reaching their full potential due to a lack of senior management skills. This alarming statistic is what spurred the creation of Agile Connect. Spearheaded by Tony Dignam, Managing Director of Agile Executives, the platform is designed to democratize access to senior management expertise. Dignam emphasizes, “Our model allows executives to apply their wealth of knowledge across multiple sectors, offering SMEs the leadership they need to flourish.”
Connecting Talent with Opportunity
Agile Connect operates on the principle of fractional leadership, where executives can engage with several companies concurrently, sharing their expertise without the need for a full-time position. This model not only benefits the executives, providing them with variety and flexibility, but also the SMEs, which gain access to a pool of expertise that was previously beyond their reach. The platform’s launch comes at a pivotal moment. With recent OECD reviews highlighting Ireland’s lag in SME productivity and the looming threat of job losses, the need for initiatives like Agile Connect has never been more acute. It represents a beacon of hope for SMEs striving for growth in a competitive landscape.
Governmental and Industry Support
Recognizing the essential role of SMEs in the economy and community, Minister of State Neale Richmond expressed strong government support for the Agile Connect initiative. “SMEs are the backbone of our economy, employing 42% of the workforce. It’s imperative that we support them with accessible leadership talent,” Richmond noted. This governmental backing underscores the importance of Agile Connect’s mission to empower SMEs, ensuring they are not left behind in Ireland’s economic narrative. With the platform now live, the future seems brighter for Irish SMEs, ready to harness the power of leadership to scale new heights.
