Pictured: Seamus Neely, Chief Exec Donegal County Council, Ursula Donnelly, Deputy Head of Enterprise Donegal LEO, Our Council Cathoirealach John Campbell, Rachel Mc Intyre Macs Deli, PJ Patton of PJ Design, Christy Lynch of Efficient Heating and Plumbing Solutions and Danny Mc Eleney, Business Advisor Donegal LEO
LEO Donegal's Enterprising Donegal Business Week takes place March 23rd - 27th 2015, with nearly 20 free events for jobseekers and businesses.
"Firmly established in the business calendar of Donegal, Business Week offers an annual opportunity for people in business and those thinking about starting a business, to take some time to review where they are with their businesses or business idea and to learn from other like-minded people. Our ultimate objectives for Donegal Business Week are the encouragement of new business start-ups and assisting existing businesses to improve their management skills" - Seamus Neely, Chief Executive Donegal County Council
We've listed some highlights from the week's events....
Start Your Own Business Course for the Unemployed
This two-day course is aimed at unemployed people interested in self-employment through the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) / Short Term Enterprise Allowance Scheme (STEA).
The following topics will be covered:
- Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme / Short Term Enterprise Allowance Scheme
- Self Assessment
- Business Finance
- Legal Issues in business set-up
- Business Plan
- Cash flow
- Marketing
Date: Monday 23rd - Tuesday 24th March, 2015
Location: Finn Valley Athletic Centre, Stranorlar
The Green Economy
This event focuses on integrating sustainable technologies into new designs and retrofitting to reduce energy demand. The event features a number of short presentations with case studies followed by open discussion and one to one meetings with suppliers. A range of renewable and energy efficiency products will also be on display.
Date: Tuesday 24th March, 2015, 9-11am
Location: Local Enterprise Office
Building a Brand of Gold
This interactive workshop will provide an insight and understanding in using your brand to maximise your business. The workshop will draw on case studies and local business “Pats Pizza”.
Date: Wednesday 25th March, 2015, 10am-4pm
Location: Local Enterprise Office
Show Me the Money
Sourcing finance can be a concern for small businesses regardless of their stage of development. This interactive workshop will incorporate exercises and relevant case studies that will help you understand this process.
Date: Thursday 26th March, 2015, 10am-4pm
Venue: Local Enterprise Office
Eyes on the Prize
Being in business is as much about being ready to take opportunities when they arise as it is about buying and selling. When you act on those opportunities people will sit up and take notice, but to be able to do all that, you first need to look after your health. This event will feature talks from Susan Hayes on the steps a business should be taking to ensure it can be ready to make the best of opportunities that come along. Deirdre McGlone will explain how to make the best of the opportunities that do arise by getting your business noticed and building links and networks that will lead to further growth. Emmet Rushe will highlight why health and fitness are vital to any business success, explaining how the less attention you pay to your health, the more of your time and energy it will rob!
Date: Friday 27th March, 2015, 9.30am - 12pm
Location: Local Enterprise Office
Find out more
You can register for these events on LEO Donegal's website, or by calling 074 916 0735.
Download the full brochure for Enterprising Donegal Business Week here.
Expressions of Interest
LEO Donegal will also be taking expressions of interest for Online Trading Vouchers, Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur 2015, and Profitnet. Details of these initiatives are below...
Online Training Vouchers
The Trading Online Voucher Scheme was one of the disruptive reforms (Actions 76-78, Action Plan for Jobs 2014). It is designed to help the small companies to access the opportunities open to them through trading online by issuing a voucher of up to €2,500, matched by own investment, for the implementation of a trading online component to their business.
Read more about the Online Trading Voucher here.
Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur
Are you a young entrepreneur, aged 30 or under, with an outstanding and innovative business idea that will blow our minds? If you have an idea with real commercial potential then The IBYE Competition 2015 is for you.
Find out more about IBYE 2014, and its winners, here.
Profitnet
Profitnet is a unique business collaboration and learning network for business owner/managers. Members meet in total confidence once a month to collaboratively address real business challenges and help each other seek new opportunities for innovation and growth.
Find out more about Profitnet here.