A new initiative from Dublin Enterprise Boards aimed at fostering business growth has been launched for companies providing ICT products or services.
The two-year programme, which was unveiled by the four Dublin County and City Enterprise Boards, is called BRITE (Business Related Initiative for Technology-based Enterprises) and incorporates mentoring, networking and training. The scheme is funded by the European Social Fund and the National Development Plan and co-ordinated by Accel. It costs around €495 to take part and more details are available at www.brite.ie.
The programme schedule involves a combination of methods intended to help business development, such as one-to-one mentoring, business networking and business skills training. As well as classroom training, there will be networking events, input from industry leaders and the opportunity to learn from others’ experiences.
Over the course of the programme there will be up to seven confidential one-to-one sessions between the owner-manager and the business mentor. In addition, there will also be group mentoring sessions when common and non-confidential issues can be addressed.
Mentors may also help to identify areas of training that a businessperson may need. Participants can choose from up to 20 courses that have been specifically developed and which carry a nationally recognised qualification. The subjects covered include time management, negotiation, communication, team building, staff appraisal, selling skills, project management and marketing. The training is certified by the Institute of Learning Management and FETAC.
Also in the plans are residential events, talks with industry leaders and a trade mission scheduled for next year. This year there will be three overnight residential events and three evening network events. Already slated for next year are four overnight residential events, four evening network events and two trade shows.
Greg Swift of Dublin City Enterprise Board said at the launch: “Over the years, we have identified the key areas that contribute to the success of any business and know that applying these to the ICT industry can only result in transforming small, creative, established companies into real players in the Irish and international marketplace.”
According to programme manager David Wells, the programme is structured so as to allow business owners to work with their mentor one-to-one in identifying their immediate, medium and long-term plans, attend the relevant training and then network with other companies on the programme. “It still allows them the time to develop their product or service, but with the benefit of business knowledge,” he said.
By Gordon Smith
