Three New SME Aid Schemes Announced Amid Energy Crisis

The General Directorate for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts have presented a series of new measures, titled "SME-Packages", aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) amid the current energy crisis.

The SME-Packages target SMEs wishing to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities associated with the energy transition, digital transformation and optimisation of customer relations.

On Thursday 29 September 2022, Lex Delles, Luxembourg's Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Marc Wagener, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Director of Entrepreneurship at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, and Tom Wirion, Director General of the Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts, presented the new "Packages" branding as well as the conditions of the SME-Packages. Each participating company may receive a voucher to help carry out projects of up to €25,000.

These aid schemes fall into three categories:

- Sustainability, the objective of which is to initiate and support the sustainable transition of Luxembourg SMEs through the implementation of a concrete solution to reduce their environmental impact, particularly around the following axes: energy, water, waste and carbon footprint. Given the current energy crisis, the "energy" package is implemented as a priority so that companies can quickly increase their energy performance;

- Service, the objective of which is to improve the customer experience to build customer loyalty around the following areas: atmosphere, relationship with customers and products;

- Digital, the objective of which is the implementation of a digital tool to increase performance around the following axes: digital marketing, management and electronic invoicing.

Minister Delles emphasised that "the 'SME-Packages' will provide targeted and effective support to small and medium-sized enterprises which constitute the backbone of the Luxembourg economy. These support programmes intervene in the crucial areas of a company, such as energy transition, customer relations and digitalisation. The 'SME-Packages' take into account the economic environment of companies and offer concrete solutions that are essential in times of crisis. These support programmes also testify to the close and fruitful collaboration of the General Directorate for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts".

"The 'SME-Packages' allow companies to obtain a concrete and operational result, thanks to the implementation of a support adapted to their needs", added Marc Wagener. "They thus perfectly complement the range of services of the House of Entrepreneurship to support the entrepreneur throughout his entrepreneurial journey and also help companies in the dual energy and digital transition".

Tom Wirion concluded: "The Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts welcomes the extension of the 'Packages' regime to the subject of sustainability, a subject whose importance continues to grow. The craftsmen are ready to help companies in their efforts to operate more efficiently and with a reduced carbon footprint".

For further information regarding the "SME-Packages", contact the respective teams as follows:

- for Horeca (hospitality), trade, services, liberal professions, etc., send an email to support@houseofentrepreneurship.lu or call tel.: 423 9 39-850;
- for craft companies, email: ehandwierk@cdm.lu or tel.: 42 67 67-305 / -306 / -307.