If you run a small business, you’ve probably felt it: you know something’s inefficient, but you don’t have the time or the outside perspective to fix it yourself.
Lean for Business is a state-backed programme, delivered through your Local Enterprise Office (LEO), that puts a highly experienced mentor into your business to help you improve.
A Lean mentor works with you, in person or online, over a series of sessions, to look at how your business currently runs and find specific, practical ways to save time, reduce waste, and cut costs.
It’s not a course, and it’s not generic advice; It’s tailored to your business and your processes.
It’s open to any type of business. If you run a shop, a service business, a trades business, or an office-based team, Lean applies just as much as it does on a factory floor or manufacturing plant.
Micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (from sole trader to 50 employees).
Trading for at least 6 months.
Turnover exceeds €30,000.
An experienced mentor working directly with your business.
Usually 4–5 half-day sessions, though this varies by LEO — some offer more, some fewer.
A clear look at how your business currently operates, and where the waste is.
Measurable outcomes (time saved, cost reduced, output increased) and a specific improvement plan.
Up to €250.
This varies depending on where in Ireland you are based.
The programme is heavily subsidised by the LEO. They cover the majority of the mentor’s fee, so you pay a small fraction of the real cost.
You’re already paying for the inefficiency, you just can’t see it yet.
Every week that you run a process that’s longer than it needs to be, or carry stock or admin time that isn’t adding value, that’s money leaking out quietly; Most business owners are too close to their own operations to spot where.
The reason this is worth doing (rather than just muddling through) is that you get an outside, trained eye on your business, with a specific, measurable result at the end.
It’s low-commitment (a handful of half-days) and low-risk (heavily subsidised), and it forces you to actually look at a problem you’ve probably been meaning to get to for months.
This programme is much more than just cash savings to small business owners. For many, it is about building a stable, secure, and sustainable business that is agile enough to face economic challenges.
Lean has given business owners the ability to get home on time and work less at weekends, while still getting the work done.
If you’re in a micro, small, or medium-sized business and you know something isn’t working as well as it should, but don’t have the time, headspace, or expertise to fix it alone, we can help.
If you would like to learn more about how, drop us an email below.
Accountancy & Financial Services Five anonymised engagements across accountancy and financial services firms show what Lean thinking finds in a sector where the ‘product’ is information. €167,070 Combined savings identified 100% Right First Time achieved (Case 2) 54 Days of capacity recovered per year 5 Engagements completed The ‘product’ is information: getting it in, processing…
Creative & Design Services Three anonymised engagements across creative and design-led businesses show that even highly bespoke, hands-on work benefits from a structured process behind the scenes. €151,083 Combined savings identified 2x Wholesale sales growth (one engagement) €50,000+ Average value per engagement 3 Engagements completed Creative businesses often assume Lean doesn’t apply to them because…
Education & Training Three anonymised engagements across education and training providers show what happens when owners step back from day-to-day delivery and the business gets a system to run on instead. €179,200 Combined savings identified 40–50% Capacity increase range (2 of 3 cases) €59,700 Average value per engagement 3 Engagements completed The common thread across…
Food, Drink & Hospitality Five anonymised engagements across artisan food, drink and hospitality businesses show a common thread: owners doing everything themselves, and the capacity that opens up once that starts to change. €131,360 Combined savings identified 7–25% Capacity increase range (4 of 5 cases) €26,000+ Average value per engagement 5 Engagements completed In food…
McWilliam Bags / UK Sailmakers Ireland A dual-division marine trade business that had outgrown its manual systems, and needed a single connected view of repairs, production, stock, and customers to keep pace with its own growth. 80% Projected reduction in repair admin time 100% Improvement in customer history traceability 70% Drop in wholesale order handling…
