Many SMEs hesitate to hire new people because of the perceived costs, risks, or uncertainty around finding the right talent. It’s understandable; recruitment can feel like a big commitment when resources are tight.  

But holding back can also limit growth just when new capacity is needed most. With the right support, hiring doesn’t have to be risky. It can be a strategic step that unlocks productivity, helps you win new business, and strengthens your company for the long term. 

In this article we show that, with the right support, businesses can expand their team in the right way, at the right time, for the right reasons. Here are four ways to grow your team with support behind you – and four things to avoid: 

1.Bringing in fresh talent with GradStart GradStart helps you hire high-potential graduates with the skills to drive innovation and growth. The programme subsidises recent graduate salaries for up to two years, giving you the time and space to integrate new hires and maximise their contribution. Graduates bring energy, new ideas, and up-to-date knowledge that can be game-changing for SMEs. 

Avoid: treating graduates as short-term hires. With the right mentoring, they can become your future leaders.  

2. Strengthen leadership with the Key Manager Grant. If your business is ready to scale but missing the right leadership capacity, the Key Manager Grant can help. It provides funding support to recruit an experienced manager in areas like operations, finance, or international sales. Having the right senior expertise in place gives you a stronger foundation for growth and can free you up to focus on strategy. 

Avoid: waiting until you’re overstretched. Bringing in senior skills earlier can accelerate progress and prevent costly mistakes. 

3. Build tomorrow’s workforce through the Work Placement Experience Programme. This national scheme helps you bring in jobseekers for six-month placements, at no cost to your business. Run by the Department of Social Protection, the scheme is a low-risk way to give individuals meaningful work experience while boosting your team’s capacity. Many businesses use placements as a pipeline for future hires, while benefiting from extra hands on deck right away.  

Avoid: overlooking placements as ‘too junior’. With structure and support, they can add real value and may grow into loyal employees. 

4. Tap into INTREO services (JobsPlus and Wage Subsidy). Through INTREO, you can access financial incentives to recruit and retain staff. JobsPlus rewards you for giving long-term unemployed people a sustainable role, while the Wage Subsidy Scheme supports businesses in hiring people with disabilities. Both programmes reduce the financial risk of hiring and help you build a diverse, committed workforce. 

Avoid: seeing incentives as red tape. These schemes are straightforward and designed to make hiring easier and more inclusive. 

Expanding your team doesn’t have to be daunting or expensive. With the right support, you can de-risk recruitment, attract skilled people, and build capacity where it matters most. Each of these supports is designed to help SMEs like yours grow strategically, one hire at a time. 

The National Enterprise Hub can guide you to the right hiring support for your needs. Call us today on (01) 727 2100.