10 Mar, 2021

New support to help NI businesses improve supply chain resilience

COVID-19 Supply Chain Resilience and Development Framework

Open to applications from 10am Wednesday 10 March 2021 via a series of programme calls, the COVID-19 Supply Chain Resilience and Development Framework (SCRDF) is designed to help NI businesses improve their supply chains.

The programme will primarily provide specialist advisory support to help businesses identify supply chain risks and appropriate mitigations, identify supply chain opportunities and develop supply chain capability.

The 2nd call for the programme will close to applications at 5pm on Friday 29 October 2021, or earlier of the available advisory resource, or available budget, is fully allocated. Projects will be approved on a first-come first-served basis.

How will the programme help?

Both COVID-19 and EU Exit have highlighted the importance of a robust and resilient supply chain. The overall aim of SCRDF is to build a robust Northern Ireland supply chain ecosystem, and help companies become more competitive.

SCRDF will provide specialist advisory and mentoring support to eligible businesses to help improve their supply chain resilience and competitiveness.

The programme will provide each eligible business with advice to address key supply chain issues, with further advice available as appropriate on areas including supply chain improvements, how mitigate supply chain risks, how to manage suppliers and on how to repurpose supply chains to meet new business opportunities.

Supply Chain Checklist

What support is available?

SCRDF will provide a graduated level of support to eligible businesses as follows:

Step 1

Up to one half day of free support and specialist advice from our team of supply chain professionals to help you understand the key supply chain issues facing your business. Along with Initial advice and direction on how to resolve these.

Step 2

Up to a further 10 days of advisory support if, in consultation with you, there is a clear need for an improvement action plan that will strengthen your business’ supply chain operation.

This could cover some or all of the following areas:

  • Coaching and mentoring on supply chain improvements/techniques to deliver sustainable benefits;
  • Facilitating, mentoring and coordinating supply chain improvement projects;
  • Supporting businesses to assess supply chain risk and mitigation opportunities;
  • Providing strategic procurement and supply chain advice to companies;
  • Identifying supply chain opportunities within businesses and promoting the benefits of a structured approach to managing suppliers;
  • Supporting businesses on repurposing operations and supply chains to meet potential new opportunities.

Step 3

Financial assistance up to a maximum of £25k available towards 50% of the first 12 month’s salary costs for a new, dedicated supply chain role within your business.

This support may be available if your business does not have the required supply chain resource or capability to implement the above Action Plan. If your business is eligible for this support, you will be asked to complete an online application form, demonstrating the need for the new role, how the role will help deliver the above agreed action plan, what benefits the role will bring to the business, and what tangible outcomes it will deliver.

How to apply

SCRDF is open to manufacturers and internationally tradeable services businesses who manage a supply chain as part of their business, or who are involved in the extended supply chain.

Your first step is to check if you are eligible to apply for SCRDF and to read the full Guidance Notes for the scheme.

Full details on the scheme eligibility and how to apply are available on http://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/scrdf.

If you are eligible for the scheme, once you complete the eligibility checker you will be directed to an enquiry form where you will be asked to provide information on your business, along with evidence to support how your supply chain has been adversely impacted due to COVID-19 or the EU Exit. You will also be asked to submit a supply chain checklist as part of the initial engagement process.

Your application will then be assessed by the SCRDF team.

The 2nd call for the programme will close to applications at 5pm on Friday 29 October 2021, or earlier of the available advisory resource, or available budget, is fully allocated. Projects will be approved on a first-come first-served basis.

Read more of our COVID-19 response features:

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