There was a definite feel good factor to the Bottom Line this evening after the programme returned after one programme off for Easter.
While it’s quite possible that there has never been a more challenging time in Irish economic history to run a business, the fact is that there probably have never been more supports available for people who are interested in starting new business ventures; developing the businesses they are in or perhaps never a greater appetite among businesses for networking and working together was apparent tonight.
Enda Hogan is the Regional Manager for Management Works a new Skillnet funded training initiative for SME Managers. Its funded under the Government Action Plan for Jobs and offers the opportunity of training and mentoring to SME Managers as well as focusing on Mangement and Management Team Development. Management Works are holding free Information Seminars for people who may be interested in the Talbot Hotel in Carlow on Tuesday April 16th between 9:30 and 12:30 and on the same day in Kilkenny between 2:30 and 5:30 in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny.
Meanwhile Eddie Blackmore of Piltown Community Enterprise joined us in studio to preview what will take place in the PIltown GAA complex on this coming Thursday evening. Keen to do something positive to create employment and stop a decrease in people living and working in the area the community came together to organise a Start Your Own Business Course which is offering the winning entry a very attractive prize including €5000 finance; utility connections; free office space for a year; computer hardware and a range of business supports. We’ve followed how this hugely positive initiative has unfolded over the months and after Thursday all will be revealed. We hope to speak to the winning entry next week on the programme.
The Town of Food Initiative has been a project undertaken by Kilkenny Leader Partnership and after a keenly contested competitive process, Thomastown has emerged victorious with the designation of “Kilkenny Town of Food” and access to up to €775,000 in grants. Well done to everyone involved. We are looking forward to seeing exciting developments in the months ahead.
And of course where would business be without Chambers of Commerce. Often during the boom times people were too busy to give much time to business networking, Chamber events and so on. However over recent years we’ve noticed on the programme that there has been a marked increase in peoples appetitie for attending Chamber events seeing them as a valuable opportunity to swap “war stories” about business with business colleagues who are more willing than ever to share experiences and swap useful information. Kilkenny Chamber is holding one such event on Thursday April 18th where the guest speaker will be Robbie Kelleher of Davy’s
Regards
John
