Background
Established indigenous manufacturer, family owned business.
Trading Highlights: Employees >50, Export sales 35% total sales, Profitable

Issue:

Impact of recession had reduced turnover by over 50% with resulting impact on profitability, cash, employment levels and sustainability. (By definition this includes a number of problems each of which were broken down and addressed individually)

Scope of Involvement:

1. Support management team to understand impact of:
   • Do nothing 
   • Operational Efficiencies – more effective matching of production and demand and other cost reduction opportunities 
   • New Sales strategies – attainment of quality certification to expand sales markets, new product lines and doing additional work for customers (move up the supply chain)
2. Preparation of detailed business plan to outline overall strategy for business recovery which included:
   • Detailed market analysis, products, trends, competition, opportunities to improve competitive advantage, customer service and product offerings
   • Operational analysis, impact of product and services to sales, new research and development initiatives, skills assessment, training needs analysis and management overview
   • Financial statements including detailed exports sales analysis and detailed analysis of new sales customers and volumes in the underlying projections.
3. Analysis of funding gaps and sources of funding. Support in negotiations and reviews for funding. Follow up and support for due diligence and compliance.

Outcomes:

1. Business Plan critiqued and reviewed in detail with management. Final draft agreed with key deliverables for each area. Supported a target led view of operations/sales which delivered planned efficiencies in line with agreed metrics and goals.
2. Business Plan supported funding rounds and the generation of +€650k funding from a range of sources. (Banks, Promoters, State Investment)
3. Sales targets achieved for 2010 in line with the Business Plan. Actual profits achieved for 2010 exceeded plan by >100%. Export growth and employment ahead of target.