Banbridge businesses will be inspired during Enterprise Week

Local businesses will be inspired to innovate, build networks and access support to help them grow and expand during Enterprise Week, with a packed programme of free events taking place across the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough from November 14-20.
Getting ready to inspire businesses during  Enterprise Week #GEW2016 (14-20 November) were Lord Mayor Garath Keating and Roger Wilson CE of ABCBC at The Palace Desmense along with Enterprise Week partners. 
  
8 November 2016    
CREDIT: www.LiamMcArdle.comGetting ready to inspire businesses during  Enterprise Week #GEW2016 (14-20 November) were Lord Mayor Garath Keating and Roger Wilson CE of ABCBC at The Palace Desmense along with Enterprise Week partners. 
  
8 November 2016    
CREDIT: www.LiamMcArdle.com
Getting ready to inspire businesses during Enterprise Week #GEW2016 (14-20 November) were Lord Mayor Garath Keating and Roger Wilson CE of ABCBC at The Palace Desmense along with Enterprise Week partners. 8 November 2016 CREDIT: www.LiamMcArdle.com

From inspirational conferences, funding workshops, digital seminars and mentoring sessions, the Council has designed events to cultivate and strengthen the area’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in an increasingly challenging environment.

The dynamic local authority is partnering with key organisations such as The Prince’s Trust, Catalyst Inc, Youth Bank international, InterTradeIreland, Social Enterprise NI, Southern Regional College, Co-working community organisation Wabisabi, We are Digital, business development initiative Plato EBR Network and local Business Centres to deliver exciting and high quality events to help local businesses and residents receive all the necessary support they need to take their businesses to the next level.

Enterprise Week coincides with Global Entrepreneurship Week, the world’s largest celebration of enterprise, which aims to inspire, connect and engage with the next generation of entrepreneurs. Across more than 160 countries over 300,000 events will be held to shine the spotlight on this year’s themes including women, youth, investors, and scale-ups. Anyone interested in developing an idea or growing their business will find inspiration from Enterprise Week’s range of events, with highlights including:

* A Night of Ambition’ with Youth Bank International, which will spark innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship in the next generation of entrepreneurs as young people from local schools, colleges and youth projects take part in the much acclaimed Teenage Market, giving young people a platform to showcase their creative talents.

* ‘Decade of the Female Entrepreneur’, which highlights and celebrates women entrepreneurs. This event, in partnership with The Prince’s Trust, features keynote speakers from academia, a motivational speaker from the local area and a panel made up of successful local female entrepreneurs from the Borough who have availed of support to start a business through the Prince’s Trust in Northern Ireland.

*‘Using Digital Innovation in Local Business’, led by We Are Digital, will provide businesses with an opportunity to explore innovative ways of working using digital platforms that will grow and develop commercial opportunities, new markets and customers.

*‘Finance for Start Ups’ by Catalyst Inc will give entrepreneurs and ‘wantrepreneurs’ in the start-up and growth phase the chance to explore options and find out more about business finance.

Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Councillor Garath Keating commented: “From the next generation of young entrepreneurs, to the latest digital technology to women leading the way in the borough - this is a week not to be missed!”