Bank of Ireland hosts 13th enterprise week

Showcasing innovation and inspiring new thinking among SMEs are the aims of the Bank of Ireland's Enterprise Week which is currently running in it 13th year.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th May 2016, 21:40 BST
Updated 16th May 2016, 22:41 BST
Sean Sheehan, Bank of Ireland UK with Philip Tasker, business development manager at Works Services, one example of a small business the bank is supporting as it invests to growSean Sheehan, Bank of Ireland UK with Philip Tasker, business development manager at Works Services, one example of a small business the bank is supporting as it invests to grow
Sean Sheehan, Bank of Ireland UK with Philip Tasker, business development manager at Works Services, one example of a small business the bank is supporting as it invests to grow

The programme which concludes on Friday is this year themed ‘Let’s Connect NI for Growth’ and features a series of events designed to facilitate networking,

iness account for small business growth and start-up businesses since the packages with discounted fees and other benefits were launched in 2015.

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“Enterprise Week is taking place at a time when we are seeing both resilience and a measure of confidence in small businesses, despite a climate of uncertainty,” said Sean Sheehan, regional director, NI consumer and small business.

“After a number of challenging years the size of the business market is growing as evidenced in recently published research and the increase in our small business account numbers is consistent with this recovery.

“Our week-long initiative will focus on providing businesses with new and innovative ideas. For example, we’re supporting the first ever digital mobile event on the island of Ireland.

‘Run a better Business on your Mobile’, in Omagh, will see local innovators share their knowledge, experience and insight of using mobile apps to improve their sales and marketing or run a more profitable and efficient business.”

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Describing SMEs as essential to delivering export growth, he said the programme also included a roundtable discussion with industry experts and business customers exploring the challenges businesses are facing and the supports they need.

The Bank’s Show Your Business initiative, which enables small businesses to display their goods and services in Bank branches will make a welcome return with local businesses signed up to participate already. Businesses on either side of the border will be able to use branches in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland as a shop window.

Over the last five years, some 10,000 small and medium sized businesses across Northern Ireland have been involved in more than 400 Enterprise programme events where they’ve received practical support and guidance to help their businesses to grow.

Related topics:SMEsIrelandOmagh