Enterprise Ireland’s recent ‘Get Export Ready’ workshop held in Castlebar attracted 50 individuals from almost 40 companies throughout the west region to hear about the Enterprise Ireland programme of supports aimed at getting more Irish companies exporting. The workshop was aimed at pre-export and early stage exporting companies, and existing businesses seeking to explore new opportunities in export markets.
The highlight of the event was an interactive discussion hosted by John Lennon, business mentor, with Claremorris based exporter and entrepreneur Gerard Concannon, chairman and CEO of the CBE Group. During the discussion Gerard Concannon talked about his experience of building an export business and the challenges which companies can face when expanding their business into new markets. He stressed the importance of Irish companies building awareness of their brands in the marketplace by exhibiting at trade fairs, advertising in trade journals, attending conferences, and using social media. The company has grown steadily to become a market leader in providing electronic point of sale solutions for the retail, forecourt, and hospitality sectors in Ireland and the UK and is one of the most successful EPoS companies in Europe.
Barry Egan, director Enterprise Ireland west region, said: “Exporting can be a valuable new source of business for companies with ambition and we know there are many Irish companies operating successfully in the Irish market who can grow new business through finding new customers overseas. I am optimistic that there is enormous entrepreneurial talent in the Irish business community that can add value to businesses and the creation of jobs through new business from exporting.”
Enterprise Ireland’s new potential exporters division delivers a wide range of initiatives focused on helping companies export more. The ‘Get Export Ready’ programme includes practical measures for early exporters focusing on export readiness, the importance of research, developing a value proposition, and the skills of export selling. It supports and helps prepare companies interested in targeting international markets to confront the challenges that any company faces as it prepares to export. The dedicated website www.enterprise-ireland.com/getexportready with ‘how to’ guides, links to relevant information, self-assessment tools and templates outline the new supports.
