Inspire Partners

What Inspire Partners does

Inspire Partners is an Irish business consultancy founded in 2015 and headquartered in Greystones, Wicklow, with a secondary office in Dublin. The firm delivers advisory and implementation services to small and medium enterprises, growth-stage companies, and established organisations across six core practice areas: Business Development, Innovation, Marketing, Project Management, Strategic Planning, and System and Process Design, supplemented by Professional Training. Service modules within each practice — such as innovation audits, feasibility studies, HACCP process design, TQM implementation, scenario planning, and corporate restructuring — are delivered through direct, collaborative engagements with client management and staff.

The consultancy is operated by a small team of senior practitioners (6 total employees), including Bernard Jones (logistics and supply chain), Padraig Friel (project management, Masters from University of Limerick), and Patrick Hession (former CEO and Company Secretary of the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland). The founders differentiate on the basis of prior business-ownership experience combined with formal training from Dublin City University's Innovation Management Programme and Ryan Academy, and the firm adheres to the IMCA code of ethics.

The business model is a sales-led professional services model with no software product, no recurring SaaS revenue, and no publicly disclosed pricing. Lead generation is driven by a complimentary Business Diagnostic Assessment; clients are then converted into bespoke advisory engagements. Distribution is direct-to-client within Ireland, supplemented by referral partnerships with the multi-county Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Network, DCU Ryan Academy, and IMCA. Named clients include Shaw Department Stores (enterprise retail) and Dry Clean Runner (SMB dry cleaning), with the firm operating purely within the Irish domestic market and no disclosed funding, outside investment, or revenue figures.

Name

Inspire Partners

Legal name

Inspire Partners

Website

https://inspirepartners.ie

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Inspire Partners is a six-person Irish business consultancy, founded in 2015 in Greystones with a Dublin office, delivering advisory and implementation services across business development, innovation, marketing, project management, strategic planning, and system/process design primarily to Irish SMEs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Consulting Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Marketing Consulting Services (541613), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Leadership Assessment, 360 Feedback & Development Planning (EDABAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Innovation & Design Thinking Programs (EDAMAHAD)

Keywords

• Business consulting services
• Strategic planning advisory
• Innovation management
• Marketing consulting
• Project management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Greystones

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Business Consultancy Services: Professional services engagement model providing advisory, consulting, and implementation services across business development, innovation, marketing, strategic planning, project management, and systems/process design. Services are delivered through direct client engagement with tailored solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Inspire Partners is a business consultancy that provides advisory, consulting, and implementation services to Irish businesses across six core practice areas: Business Development, Innovation, Marketing, Project Management, Strategic Planning, and System and Process Design, supplemented by Professional Training. Services are delivered by experienced business owners and senior managers through direct client engagements, starting with a complimentary Business Diagnostic Assessment and concluding with implementation and follow-up consultation.

Product overview

Inspire Partners is a business consultancy offering advisory and consulting services rather than a software product. The company provides a unified suite of professional services organised around six core practice areas: Business Development (including assessment/mentoring and model development), Innovation (covering strategic road mapping, feasibility validation, idea management, audits, NPD, and sprint strategy), Marketing (competitive analysis, market research, and sales planning), Project Management, Strategic Planning (corporate restructuring, facilitation, organisational planning, scenario planning, and business review), and System and Process Design (technology systems, HACCP, change management, performance improvement, audits, and quality management). Additionally, Professional Training services are offered. These consulting services are delivered through experienced advisors who collaborate with clients to implement solutions and achieve business growth objectives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Development Consulting Business development consulting focused on creating opportunities for growth and generating long-term value for businesses, including business assessment, mentoring, and model development. Targeted at Irish SMEs and growth-stage companies seeking to identify and act on growth opportunities.
• Innovation Services Innovation consulting encompassing strategic road mapping, feasibility studies, idea management, innovation audits, new product/service development, and sprint strategy. Designed for Irish businesses seeking to innovate, validate new markets, or develop new products and services.
• Marketing Services Broad-spectrum marketing services including communications, product development, packaging design and sourcing, marketing planning, social media optimisation, and website development. Also covers competitive analysis, market research, and sales planning. Targeted at SMEs needing external marketing expertise.
• Project Management Services Project and programme management services establishing and improving project management tools and processes from conception through implementation. Built on Prince 2, IPMA-C, and Masters-level project management expertise. Targeted at companies needing structured project delivery capability.
• Strategic Planning Services Strategic planning services including corporate restructuring, facilitation, organisational planning, scenario planning, and strategic business review. Designed for organisations needing strategic direction, turnaround support, or structured decision-making processes.
• System and Process Design Systems and process design services covering business technology, food safety management (HACCP), change management, performance improvement, audits, and quality management. Designed for organisations requiring operational transformation, quality systems, or HACCP certification support.
• Professional Training Employee training program development services to increase motivation, morale, and productivity through carefully planned and implemented training. Targeted at organisations seeking to upskill staff and improve workforce performance.
• Business Diagnostic Assessment Complimentary business evaluation identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement in client businesses. Offered free of charge and without obligation as a lead-generation entry point into paid advisory engagements. Targeted at prospective Irish SME clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Complimentary Business Diagnostic Assessment identifies strengths, weaknesses, and improvement areas at no cost or obligation

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Small Firms AssociationminorOthersListed as a resource link on Inspire Partners' website, providing access to small business support and advocacy resources.
• DCU Innovation & Enterprise CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspire Partners founders trained through the Innovation Management Programme at Dublin City University. The firm maintains connection with DCU's enterprise ecosystem for innovation-focused services.
• DCU Ryan AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspire Partners developed unique skills from the Innovation Management Programme at Dublin City University's Ryan Academy. Strong alignment with entrepreneurial development and startup ecosystem.
• Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as partner/resource for clients seeking government business support. Inspire Partners works with multiple LEO offices including Kildare, Wicklow, Fingal, South Dublin, and Dublin City to support small business development.
• Institute of Management Consultants & Advisors (IMCA)coreOthersInspire Partners adheres to the ethos and code of ethics of IMCA, of which all members are part. This membership ensures professional standards are maintained.
• Women in Business NetworkminorOthersListed as a resource link for government support for women entrepreneurs and business owners.
• Irish Business Employers Confederation (IBEC)minorOthersListed as a resource link providing access to Irish business advocacy and employer support services.
• Chamber of Commerce IrelandminorOthersListed as a resource link for Irish business networking and trade support services.
• National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI)minorOthersListed as a resource link for standards, certification, and regulatory compliance support relevant to quality management systems and HACCP services.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• McKinsey & Company: Global top-tier strategy consulting firm. While typically serving much larger clients, it represents the upper bound of the management consulting category Inspire Partners operates in and competes for high-end strategy and transformation work.
• PwC Ireland: Big 4 firm providing management consulting, strategy, and operations advisory in Ireland. A larger-scale competitor for strategic planning, transformation, and innovation engagements in the mid-market.
• Accenture Ireland: Global management consulting and technology services firm with an Irish practice. Overlaps with Inspire Partners in strategy, operations, and innovation consulting, though focused primarily on larger enterprise clients.
• EY Ireland: Big 4 firm with consulting, strategy, and transaction advisory services in Ireland. Overlaps with Inspire Partners in the SME advisory space but operates at substantially greater scale.
• KPMG Ireland: Big 4 firm offering strategy, management consulting, and deal advisory in Ireland. Competes for the upper end of Inspire Partners' SME and mid-market client base, with significantly greater resources and brand recognition.
• Deloitte Ireland: Big 4 professional services firm with full-scale consulting, audit, tax, and advisory practices in Ireland. Serves overlapping SME and mid-market segments but at much larger scale, representing both a competitive threat and a potential partnership/acquisition target.

Direct peers

• RSM Ireland: Mid-tier advisory firm providing consulting, tax, and audit services to Irish SMEs and growing businesses. Comparable as another mid-sized multi-discipline Irish advisory competitor.
• BDO Ireland: Mid-tier professional services firm offering audit, tax, and advisory/consulting services to Irish SMEs and mid-market companies. Directly comparable as a similarly positioned advisory competitor in the same Irish SME market segment.
• Mazars Ireland: International mid-tier professional services firm with a strong Irish practice serving SMEs through audit, tax, and consulting services. Comparable as a similarly broad multi-discipline advisory competitor in the same Irish SME market.
• Grant Thornton Ireland: Mid-tier accounting and business advisory firm serving Irish SMEs, owner-managed businesses, and mid-market corporates. Closely comparable in target customer profile, service breadth, and Irish market focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inspire-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Inspire Partners