Grow Your Cross-Border Trade with Acumen Funding from InterTradeIreland

For businesses across the island of Ireland, exporting doesn’t have to mean navigating customs, language barriers, or long-distance logistics. Sometimes, your next great growth opportunity is just a short drive up (or down) the road.

At SalesPlus, we’re proud to work closely with InterTradeIreland as an approved consultant, helping SMEs north and south make the most of the Acumen programme, a funding initiative designed specifically to help businesses in the Republic or Ireland and Northern Ireland expand their sales reach into the opposite jurisdiction.

Whether you’re based in the Republic of Ireland looking to grow into Northern Ireland, or vice versa, Acumen is all about making cross-border trade easier, more affordable, and more successful.

Why Cross-Border Trade Matters for Small Businesses

Cross-border trade represents a huge opportunity for growth, particularly for micro and small businesses that might not yet be ready to tackle larger export markets further afield, such as Great Britain or mainland Europe.

Here’s why it's worth exploring:

• Proximity = Practicality: Short delivery times, familiar business environments, and shared cultural values make doing business across the border more straightforward than overseas exporting.

• No Brexit Red Tape: Unlike trade between Ireland and Great Britain, cross-border trade on the island of Ireland does not involve customs declarations, tariffs, or complicated VAT processes. This means fewer barriers and more agility.

• Market Expansion Without Major Overheads: Selling across the border allows businesses to increase turnover and spread risk without the need to establish a costly overseas presence.

• Stronger Resilience and Diversification: Engaging with new markets helps insulate your business from domestic downturns or sector-specific shocks. Even small-scale export activity can boost your resilience.

• Greater Brand Awareness: Entering the cross-border market helps build your brand on a wider stage, with the potential to create word-of-mouth momentum, distributor relationships, and new growth opportunities.

  
  

For many SMEs and microbusinesses, cross-border trade is the ideal first step into exporting — and the Acumen programme is designed to help you succeed.

What is the Acumen Programme?

The Acumen programme provides funding support to help businesses recruit experienced salespeople who can focus on identifying opportunities and winning new customers across the border. It’s ideal for both first-time exporters and seasoned exporters looking to grow their market share.

With Acumen, you can:

• Access funding towards the cost of a full-time or part-time sales resource;

• Grow your sales team without shouldering the full financial burden;

• Get support and guidance through every stage: from application to recruitment and beyond.

  
  

Two Flexible Funding Options

1. Full-time Sales Support:

Receive up to €21,562 / £17,250 towards a full-time salesperson for 12 months. This person would be employed directly by your business and can be based either in your own jurisdiction or in the target market.

2. Part-time Sales Support:

Receive up to €11,500 / £9,200 towards a part-time sales resource (direct hire or contracted). This option offers more flexibility — and SalesPlus can act as your chosen consultant here if you need an experienced partner to lead your sales strategy.

Am I Eligible?

To qualify for Acumen, your business must:

• Be an indigenous SME (under 250 staff and €40m/£40m turnover);

• Operate in manufacturing or tradable services (with delivery in the cross-border market);

• Have a proven trading history (minimum 18–24 months);

• Currently generate less than 30% of sales in the target market;

• Offer a unique product or service that doesn’t directly displace others in that market.

  
  

Don’t worry — if you’re unsure about your eligibility, SalesPlus can assess if your business meets the criteria.

Additional Market Research Support

Before you even apply, InterTradeIreland can also provide 100% funded market research support through its Export Diagnostic Assessment. This helps identify:

• The size and viability of your target market

• Pricing and product positioning

• Competitor landscape

• Route-to-market strategies

  
  

This support is particularly useful for first-time exporters or businesses that want to validate their cross-border potential before committing to a full Acumen application.

Practical Support, Every Step of the Way

When you're approved for Acumen, the support doesn’t stop at funding. You’ll also receive help with:

• Writing job descriptions, adverts, and interview guides

• Shortlisting candidates and managing interviews

• Developing a 12-month sales plan

• Access to sales workshops and peer networking opportunities.

  
  

This wraparound support is ideal for SMEs that may not have dedicated in-house HR or sales management teams, especially microbusinesses where the owner is wearing multiple hats.

How SalesPlus Can Help

SalesPlus have been working with InterTradeIreland and the Acumen programme for over 20 years, helping micro businesses and SMEs across Ireland and Northern Ireland build lasting, profitable cross-border relationships.

We can:

• Check your eligibility

• Assist with your Acumen application

• Act as your part-time sales consultant if you choose the part-time funding option.

  
  

With a multi-disciplinary team in sales, lead generation, digital marketing and finance, we bring the experience and insight needed to make your expansion a success.

So if you’re ready to explore an export market that’s on your doorstep, why not get in touch with our Sales Director, Michael McElroy (michael@salesplus.ie) to discuss your eligibility. The Acumen programme is here to help you grow, and SalesPlus is here to guide you every step of the way.

Let’s grow cross-border, together.