Last Tuesday our finance ministers announced the biggest budget in the history of the state, costing the Irish government €11 billion. Relief was given across all sectors, including small and medium sized businesses.
One of the relief measures introduced was the €10k energy grant for business known as the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS). This scheme will pay up to €10,000 per month to businesses to cover up to 40% of the increase in their electricity or gas bills. It will compare the average unit price for electricity between 2021 and 2022. If it’s more than 50 per cent, then businesses will be entitled to make a claim. However, it will need approval from the EU commission. That is welcome news for struggling businesses, especially those in our own industry. The scheme will be backdated to September and will run until at least February 2023.
We need to be mindful of our customers as well, especially our commercial customers such as farmers, landscapers and contractors. If they are struggling then it is not good news for us. They may be forced into making tough decisions when it comes to paying electricity bills and purchasing new machinery or replacing old ones. Times of uncertainty lie ahead but the relief measures put in place in this budget should help businesses cope that bit better over the coming winter months. We will wait and see.
On a brighter note it was wonderful to see the huge turnout at this year’s National and World Ploughing Championships, which were held in Ratheniska, Co. Laois. 277,000 attended the three day event, which had glorious sunshine for the first two days. There was plenty of machinery on display at the trade stands with over 1700 exhibitors. IAM Agricultural Machinery accepted the Machine of the Year for the FarmDroid FD20 robotic weeder and seeder. So well done to IAM Agricultural Machinery on receiving their great award.
Robotic farming seems to be the way forward as was highlighted at last year’s Service Dealer Conference & Awards. This brings me nicely to remind you of this year’s event. Service Dealer Conference and Awards ‘22 takes place on Thursday 24th November 2022 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Oxford Belfry Hotel, Thame, Oxfordshire.
The theme of this year’s Conference and Awards is Sustaining Dealerships. The keynote speaker is former SAS soldier, turned motivational speaker, author and veteran’s campaigner, Robin Horsfail. Robin was involved in the storming of the Iranian embassy in 1980. There are other great speakers lined up as well, who will give presentations on a wide variety of topics. This year’s event will be worth attending.
Service Dealer Ireland will keep you updated about the conference and awards. For more information visit www.servicedealer.co.uk/2022-awards
