A dog grooming kennel, a website for purchasing materials for moving home, bespoke furniture pieces, a health management course, motorhome rentals, jewellery courses, Irish mythology products, new energy saving products, and a web portal for craft suppliers.
These are some of the services and products being developed by 12 budding entrepreneurs who have just completed a small and medium enterprise (SME ) programme at GMIT Castlebar’s Innovation in Business Centre (IiBC ).
The enterprise training programme for Mayo was launched in April 2011 with support from Mayo South West Development Company and Mayo North East Partnership which funded it under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.
The four-month training programme was delivered on a part-time basis and had a combined approach of practical learning through workshop delivery, hands-on experience, and critically important one-to-one mentoring for all participants. The IiBC also facilitated networking and other supports necessary to navigate the business start-up process.
Fintan Conlon, director of Moving Box Ireland, who completed the programme commented: “Whether you are starting a new business or growing an existing one, I highly recommend this SME programme.
“We received excellent mentoring from the Discovery Partnership, the IiBC and the various experts employed to deliver the workshops. It helped grow a small service into the launch of a brand new ecommerce site www.movingboxireland.com I am delighted with the result.”
The GMIT Innovation Centre provides a professional, modern, environment for early-stage entrepreneurs and businesses. In addition to business accommodation, there are opportunities to engage with other businesses at the same or similar stages of development. Most importantly, the management at the centre provides excellent support and advice. For more information contact [email protected]
Maria Staunton, IiBC centre manager, understands the importance of job creation in today’s environment. “Ireland needs more people to create jobs and all participants on the course have potential to start employing people in the near future. The IiBC is focused on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs, setting up high potential start-up (HPSUs ) companies and creating innovative companies with a view to exporting in the near future.”
