Council Business Support Programmes Break for Summer
July 30, 2015
Three Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council business programmes collectively held their last business networking event of the current season in the prestigious venue of Hillsborough Castle.
The Economic Development Unit of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council manages Lisburn Entrepreneurs Network (LEN), InterAct and Evolution. The programmes’ funders include the Council, Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland. These bespoke programmes offer mentoring sessions, practical information sessions aimed at addressing key business issues and promoting local business development amongst other forms of assistance.
This very well attended event was the ideal way to conclude what was a very busy and successful year for these three programmes. Representatives from over forty local companies from within the Council area enjoyed hearing from guest speaker Hugh Cormican as he spoke about his exciting entrepreneurial journey within the medical device sector. Hugh set up world class integrated medical solutions company Cirdan Imaging and was one of the founders of Andor Technologies and former Director of QUBIS.
Renowned motivational speaker Bryan Dunlop delivered a practical and interactive presentation on Leadership and the Effectiveness of Communication. Local company North Time & Data representative Steve Brown also spoke at the event about his company’s positive experience with the Evolution Programme.
LEN usually meets for a breakfast seminar style event on the last Thursday of every month and Alderman Jim Dillon, Vice-Chair of the Council’s Development Committee, speaking about the year’s events, said: “Since last September LEN has held a number of events addressing topics of interest to small businesses within the Council area. These have included how to build a network of contacts, human resource essentials, an economic briefing on the Northern Ireland economy from Oxford Economics and how to avoid ‘Fatal Faux Pas’.
“The experts that have spoken at the LEN events primarily gave their advice and time to the local businesses free of charge and I would like to thank them for their services on behalf of the Council. I would also like to thank the many local businesses who have supported LEN and who regularly attend the monthly meetings.
“At the end of the year event it was great, alongside many of our LEN, InterAct and Evolution Programme members, to hear from local business talent on how they have striven ahead and become successful in their chosen fields. It was also beneficial to have someone speak first-hand about their experience of the newest programme, Evolution, and I hope this encourages others to avail of its free one-to-one business mentoring support.
“Bryan Dunlop spoke about how the most effective leaders in the modern business environment are those who won’t accept the status quo. They think, innovate and adapt because that is what needs to be done and Bryan gave all those present plenty of ‘food for thought’,” said Alderman Dillon.
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council looks forward to welcoming LEN, InterAct and Evolution members back to its new programmes of events commencing from September.
For further information on forthcoming LEN or InterAct events, please contact Hazel King, Economic Development Manager, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council on 028 9250 9484 or hazel.king@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk
To identify new sales and grow your business and be part of the Evolution Programme contact Patricia Mallon on 028 9250 9383 or patricia.mallon@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk
Alderman Jim Dillon, Vice-Chair of the Council's Development Committee is pictured at the Council's Business Programme Event in Hillsborough Castle with guest speakers (l-r) Steve Brown, North Time & Data; Hugh Cormican, Cirdan Imaging and Bryan Dunlop, motivational speaker.
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council's Economic Development Team are pictured with the Mayor, Councillor Thomas Beckett; Alderman Jim Dillon, Vice-Chair of the Development Committee; Dr Theresa Donaldson, Chief Executive and guest speaker Bryan Dunlop.