Top management consultancy set to help businesses think BIG

The programme which is supported by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund, will see over £820,000 channelled into driving the innovation and productivity of local businesses in the Londonderry and Strabane area.

This will be achieved through a series of interventions that aim to assist companies to become more competitive and ready to trade within both indigenous and export markets.

The programme will provide a wide range of support tools for local companies and for anyone starting out in business, offering workshops, mentoring and networking opportunities.

The key elements of the programme will be the Get Ready to Export Programme, the Social Purpose Enterprise Support programme, the Procurement Support Programme and the Digital Tech Enterprise Support programme.

A raft of new initiatives to encourage and support innovation and entrepreneurship will also be rolled out throughout the scheme, offering a springboard for new ventures.

Head of Business with Council, Kevin O’Connor, said the programme would offer much needed support as companies look forward to more successes and plan for the future.

“These are challenging times for business and through the Business Innovation and Growth Programme we have the opportunity to support local companies as they plan for the future and adapt to the additional demands of doing business in a new commercial landscape,” he explained.

“We are very fortunate to have strong private sector leaders engaged in the local Economic Delivery Partnership, which will provide a strong foundation for future growth.

“As a Council we are committed to delivering the employment, skills development, investment and innovation opportunities that we need to position the North West as an attractive location for cutting edge business development.

“The BIG programme will have an important role in delivering the outcomes of our Strategic Growth Plan, in tandem with the important work that is also ongoing on the delivery of an exciting range of smart city and digital infrastructure projects.”

Eligible companies can access assistance to help them transform customer experience, develop new operational processes and business models and ultimately create new jobs and achieve commercial success.

Full Circle Management Solutions is one of the leading providers of business advisory services in Ireland with a proven track record in helping companies increase turnover, manage costs and generate profit.

Simon Devlin, Founder and Managing Director of Full Circle Management Solutions, said the company was looking forward to engaging with local businesses and helping them realise their ambitions through the BIG Programme.

He continued: “Full Circle Management Solutions is delighted to be working with Derry City and Strabane District Council.

“There is a wealth of talent in the North West and we look forward to helping local companies identify their strengths, refine their goals and take their business to the next level.

“2020 has certainly presented some serious obstacles for local businesses, but we are confident that we have the expertise to help companies plan for the future and navigate through the difficult months ahead.”

Anyone comapny or individual who would like to find out more about the Business Innovation and Growth Programme or would like to speak to someone about the scheme can simply visit www.derrystrabane.com/BIG

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