€1 Million boost for Louth and North-East SMEs

The Mill Enterprise Hub has officially launched BASSE NorthEast, a new three-year Business Growth, Leadership and Sustainability Programme for ambitious SMEs in Louth and across the North-East region, supported by €1 million in Enterprise Ireland Smart Regions funding. 

BASSE NorthEast is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021–2027, and builds on the success of the BASSE programme launched in Wexford in 2025, representing a significant investment in long-term regional enterprise development and a structured, multi-year approach to building resilient, competitive SMEs.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke officially launched the programme on 29 January 2026, stating that “This investment in the Mill Enterprise Hub and the B.A.S.S.E. programme marks a major step forward for the Northeast.

"It demonstrates our commitment to regional development, ensuring that innovation and opportunity are not confined to urban centres. This initiative will help foster the kind of sustainable, high-quality jobs our communities need to thrive.

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"My Department through Enterprise Ireland looks forward to working with the SME’S that come through the programme to support them on their scaling ambitions.”

Donal Leahy, Head of Regional Infrastructure at Enterprise Ireland, added: “The B.A.S.S.E. programme is a prime example of how the European Regional Development Fund is enabling high-impact regional initiatives that drive innovation and enterprise.

"By supporting the Mill Enterprise Hub, we are backing a model that connects SMEs and start-ups to world-class expertise, accelerates growth, and strengthens the North East’s position as a vibrant hub for sustainable business.”

Following the launch, Expressions of Interest are now open to SMEs located in Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan. The programme will support a cohort of 16 SMEs over a three-year period, focusing on strengthening strategic leadership, building sustainable business models, and enhancing competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.

The programme brings together three integrated pillars of support: 1) The scaling and growth element focuses on strategy clarification, digital transformation, AI adoption, and export readiness, helping businesses move from ambition to structured execution.

2) The sustainability and ESG pillar supports companies in carrying out sustainability health checks, tracking carbon and resource use, and aligning with emerging regulatory and supply-chain requirements.

3) The peer-to-peer mentoring and leadership development pillar provides facilitated peer learning and leadership labs, creating a trusted environment where CEOs and senior leaders can share experiences, test decisions, and strengthen leadership resilience.

This initiative is aimed specifically at CEOs, founders, and senior management teams of established SMEs who are actively planning to scale, internationalise, or strengthen leadership capability within their organisations.

Eligible companies must be based in the counties of Louth, Meath, Cavan, or Monaghan and have an annual turnover exceeding €1 million. Participants will be expected to commit time and senior leadership engagement to fully benefit from the programme’s depth and structure.

The programme will run for three years, spread across in-person workshops, peer mentoring sessions, leadership labs, and online supports. Delivery will take place primarily at The Mill Enterprise Hub in Drogheda, complemented by online elements designed to minimise disruption to day-to-day business operations.

By the end of the programme, participating SMEs will be better positioned to scale sustainably, strengthen leadership decision-making, and build resilience in the face of economic, regulatory, and market change.

Participants are expected to emerge with clearer growth strategies, stronger leadership teams, improved investor and internationalisation readiness, and trusted peer networks that extend beyond the programme itself.

Expressions of Interest are now open, with applications closing on 20 February 2026. The programme is scheduled to commence on 25 March 2026 for successful participants. Full programme details and application information can be found at https://themilldrogheda.ie/basse-north-east/.

BASSE NorthEast is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027