Businesses around Galway are to continue to benefit from coaching sessions offered by AIB. The second phase of the business coaching sessions will kick-off this month (November ) and will run until February 2013. Feedback from customers involved in the programme has been very positive.
As part of its campaign, “The Big Drive for Small Business”, AIB launched an SME business planning programme. AIB is working with ActionCOACH, a leading business coaching company in Ireland to develop this programme. This programme aims to equip small businesses with training and tools in the form of a 90-day plan focused on business development.
It is expected that in excess of 2,000 customers throughout Ireland will take part in these programmes by the end of February 2013. The programme content consists of eight key business areas focusing on:
— Setting your business goals and company vision
— Understanding financials and your cashflow cycle
— Principles of leverage and the importance of testing and measuring
— Marketing your business and establishing your USP
— Sales and handling objections
— Customer service and client fulfilment
— How to systemise your business and the importance of management information
— Building and leading a team
. AIB regional director, Mark Fitzharris said: “Feedback from customers involved in the programme has been very positive. Customers who came back to Day Two of the programme shared success stories about the changes they made in their business during the 90 Days between day one and day two.
“We know that it is vital to the economic recovery of the nation that viable small businesses get all the support they need. We want business people to come and visit one of our branches nationwide or to contact their relationship manager in their branch or commercial centre to find out how AIB can support their business.”
AIB is comfortable it will exceed the €3.5 billion SME lending target set by the Government for 2012. This target relates to both new lending and refinancing/restructuring of debt, the latter of which, the Bank says is vitally important in sustaining businesses experiencing financial stress.
