Inspiring Entrepreneurs webinar

Inspiring Entrepreneurs who have adapted their business in response to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic will feature in an upcoming Enterprise Week event to be hosted virtually by the Mid South West (MSW) Region.

Mid South West Region is a collaboration between Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Mid Ulster District Council which aims to supercharge the economic growth of the region over the coming years through its Regional Economic Strategy.

The webinar, Inspiring Entrepreneurs, will be held online on Thursday, November 19 to mark Global Entrepreneurship Week, taking the form of an impressive panel comprising Mairead Mackle of Tarasis Enterprises, Shane McCrory from ElectriCast Ltd and Cormac Diamond from Bloc Blinds.

With a robust reputation and proven track record spanning more than 25 years, Tarasis Enterprises is a suite of progressive businesses spanning several industries including health, care, housing and renewables. Strategically led by CEO and Founder Mairead Mackle alongside a multi-disciplinary management team, Tarasis Enterprises is to always think “beyond business”, creating innovative solutions for the future of living that tackle real social issues including homelessness, healthcare, housing and healthy-aging. Businesses under the Tarasis Enterprises brand include Homecare Independent Living (HCIL), Homecare Support Services, Homecare Housing LTD, Fabraco, Yourtest, MyHandcare, iCare Charity and Evolve.

ElectriCast Ltd in Omagh recently won ‘Most Innovative Heating Solution 2020’ at the UK Enterprise Awards. Established by local entrepreneur Shane McCrory in 2018, ElectriCast Ltd manufactures low wattage electric cast iron radiators that provide a fully programmable heating solution. With no plumbing required ElectriCast radiators can be placed in any area of the consumers home or business providing 100% efficient heating. With their attractive design and customised colours they are sure to complement any living area whilst reducing carbon footprint

Having identified an opportunity in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Health and Social Care NI (HSCNI) back in April 2020, Magherafelt based Bloc Blinds ventured into a new business. The company normally manufactures window blinds but adapted their business model to meet demand producing four million face shields per week.

Chair of the Mid South West Region Governance Steering Group, Councillor Robert Irvine, explained: “The Mid South West region is home to many world-leading export businesses and as such is a globalised, outward and forward looking region. The Regional Economic Strategy will help to create the conditions for more businesses to thrive and for fledgling entrepreneurs to be inspired to pursue their business dreams. In support of this, we are delighted to be hosting the Inspiring Entrepreneurs event during Enterprise Week 2020.

“The entrepreneurs participating on the panel are in a prime position to provide an insight into running a successful business and adapting business models to take advantage of a business opportunity arising from the coronavirus pandemic.”

The Mid South West region is home to a third of NI firms and accounts for 27% of NI’s exports.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs will take place on Thursday 19 November at 10am and free spaces for the webinar can be booked via https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1958892525489067276.

For details on all the events featured in this year’s Enterprise Week visit armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/business/enterpriseweek.

The Global Entrepreneurship Week movement can be followed on Facebook and Twitter #GEW2020 and #ABCEW20 and MSW can be followed on Twitter @msw_region.

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