Supported by some of the largest firms in the Province and with funding from a number of local councils, in one year the programme will help more than 25 local manufacturing companies in the bid to increase turnover, sales and profitability.

Plato Ireland Ltd was established in 1995 to provide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with a unique business support forum for exploring business growth and expansion.

There are currently about 1,000 participating SMEs in seven regional networks and more than 1,500 companies have already participated in Plato Ireland programmes.

Speaking at the launch at the Courtyard Theatre, Newtownabbey, Brian Donaldson, general manager of marketing and retail for the Maxol Group and chairman of Plato Belfast, said that the new programme would offer local business managers the perfect support package to help them enhance the profitability of their business.

“In today’s difficult economic climate it is vitally important that local companies embrace any opportunity to enhance the efficiency, improve the turnover and drive down the costs of their business.

“This new programme will offer participants access to the collective intelligence of business leaders working within world-class manufacturing organisations in Northern Ireland and provide them with the practical steps they can take to increase the competitiveness of their business.”

Some of those firms lending mentoring support include McMullan Architectural Systems, Schrader Electronics, MSO Cleland, Williams Industrial, Canyon Europe and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

Brian Hunter, regional manager Plato Belfast, said the programme built on the very successful track record built up by the organisation which is celebrating 15 years of operations this year.

“Companies on our previous model reported increases of up to 100 per cent in both turnover and profitability.

“We aim to replicate this success for all participating manufacturing companies on the new programme.”

The launch event heralded the first meeting between participating companies and their mentors.

Over the next year participants will benefit from facilitated group learning, training activities, best practice, company visits, benchmarking, business linkages and networking events.