BIM encourages businesses to join seafood business advisory programme

Seafood businesses across Ireland are being encouraged to strengthen their competitiveness and prepare for future challenges through BIM’s Seafood Business Advisory Programme.

The programme provides practical, tailored support to help seafood businesses improve profitability and long-term sustainability. And with an estimated 85 per cent of Irish seafood businesses family owned, it also helps guide companies through succession planning.

A panel of experienced business advisors will work directly with individual companies to identify areas for improvement and support the implementation of cost-effective solutions. The knowledge and experience gained through the programme will help strengthen the wider seafood sector by sharing best practice and building industry resilience.

One of the key areas of support is financial performance, where advisors work alongside businesses to understand exactly where profits are being made and where they may be leaking away.

This includes carrying out a detailed financial health check, identifying opportunities to reduce costs, strengthen sales and introduce practical financial management tools that support better day-to-day and strategic decision-making.

Advisors work alongside businesses to help implement recommendations, ensuring improvements become embedded within day-to-day operations and deliver lasting benefits.

One business receiving support from the programme is Goatsbridge Trout Farm in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny.

Mags Kirwan of Goatsbridge said:

“Bringing in an outside expert provided something that can be difficult for any owner-manager. The opportunity to stand back from the everyday demands of running the company and examine the business objectively was transformative.”

“The financial modelling exercise has given Goatsbridge a much clearer picture of our business today, while also creating a stronger basis for decisions about tomorrow.”