Council’s business mentoring is here to help..for free!

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council (ABC) Council is encouraging all micro and small enterprises from the borough to sign up to its free business mentoring service through the ABC Business Support Hub.

Free and open to all local businesses with fewer than 50 employees, the ABC Business Support Hub enables eligible businesses to benefit from 20 hours of mentoring support from a pool of experienced, expert business advisors.

The independent and impartial business mentors offer tailored, one-to-one guidance and information, helping meet each business’ particular needs and requirements.

From advice on how to mitigate cash flow challenges to assistance with restructuring and change, the advisory service helps equip local businesses with the right skills and tools to ensure viable trading and long term growth.

“It’s been an incredibly tough time for many of the micro and small businesses based in the borough, as they continue to face many difficult decisions in an ever changing, uncertain operating environment, commented Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Councillor Kevin Savage.

“Through our Business Support Hub, local businesses can receive expert guidance bespoke to their current circumstances, enabling them to get on the right track to recover and rebuild following the pandemic.

“I would urge all micro and small businesses to sign up to this vital support service.”

Ethna McNamee, Invest Northern Ireland’s Western Regional Manager said: “We are pleased to support the ABC Business Support Hub which will assist businesses in the area to sustain and grow employment and aid recovery from the economic impacts of Covid-19.

“Expert mentoring support in key business areas such as strategic planning, financial management and the adoption of new technologies and innovation have been included in the Hub to help companies sustain and create jobs while competing successfully for new work to increase sales and turnover.”

Local café owner Scott King from the Craic’d Pot in Armagh signed up to the Business Support Hub during the Coronavirus pandemic. From an initial business assessment, Scott was able to receive support with strategy planning, financial forecasting, new product development, digital marketing as well as assistance with applying for grants.

Encouraging fellow local businesses to sign up, Scott King from Craic’d Pot commented,

“The support and assistance I’ve received from my mentor has been instrumental in helping me create a pathway to reopening my business during the current pandemic. Her knowledge and expertise has been vital in helping me realign my business goals and objectives, helping us drive business growth. Before her help we found ourselves stumbling in the dark with social media and now we feel confident in promoting our business across a number of different online platforms.”

The ABC Business Support Hub Programme is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth & Jobs Northern Ireland (2014-2020) Programme. It is part of the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Business Engagement, Growth Driver and Win More Business programmes.

To sign up to the ABC Business Support Hub Programme visit www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/abcbusinesssupporthub or call 028 3831 2571.

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