cork's gathering - Cork Chamber of Commerce

LINKPatrick Doyle, Membership Development Managere: patrick@corkchamber.ie or t: 021-4530145ArchitectsCatherine Troy Interior DesignInterior design consultancy service to the residential, commercial &hospitality sectorContact: Catherine TroyT: (087) 2103727E: catherine@catherinetroydesign.ieServicesPostdoc LtdProvides print & communications solutions using advancedtechniques & intelligent buying. Postdoc helps you achieve your printand communications goals cost effectively and with the best qualityContact: Donal BarryT: (01) 6316020E: donal@postdoc.ieW: www.postdoc.ieManufacturersAdattsi LtdDesign & manufacture a range of energy saving lighting fi xtures forthe commercial and industrial sectorsContact: Clive O'HaganT: (021) 4880000E: clive@adattsi.comW: www.adattsi.comHorizon FurnitureDesign & manufacture of high quality bespoke furniture forcorporate & domestic customersContact: Fergal O LearyT: (021) 4313313E: fergal.horizon@gmail.comW: www.horizonfurniture.ieBusiness Expo to cut through red tape and challenges facing SMEsHow is it that in times of economic turbulence, economies see asurge in start-up busi-nesses; budding entrepreneurs bringing newbusiness concepts to market and domestic companies looking toexport markets. Ireland is no exception to the rule, with redundancybeing the making of many former employees - it could be seen as thepositive flipside of recession.to give one-to-one strategic advice helping businesses realise theirpotential in Ireland, or in overseas markets. People invest in people …Un-derstanding the way of the business world and navigating it willgive any business an added advantage. At the Expo entrepreneurscan avail of a wealth of expertise, gain mar-ket share and learn how toovercome the key challenges.”It was announced that a first National Business Expo is to take placeon Friday, 8th March and Saturday 9th March 2013 in the RDS – Theexpo will be partnered by Grant Thornton and Bank of Ireland withVodafone Ireland as digital partner and the Irish Times and RTE RadioOne as media partners. The National Business Expo will supportIrish entrepreneurs in accelerating their businesses and will featureprac-tical advice with an emphasis on start-ups, small to mediumbusinesses and companies looking to export.2011 saw 2,200 Irish people start their own business each month1and while the country needs to embrace entrepreneurship andinnovation, accessing help can be a challenge for small businesses.According to Miriam O’Connor, National Business Expo, “As a startupourselves we have experienced first-hand the challenges newbusinesses face in terms of funding, advice and getting face-timewith the right people. We understand the practical difficulties thatIrish businesses need to overcome and have used this experience tode-velop the Expo as a practical, solution based event for businesses.”Encouraging figures last week from Enterprise Ireland report anet jobs gain of 3,804 for exporting companies last year mainly inthe software, internationally traded services, food, machinery andequipment businesses. With more expanding Irish companies lookingto foreign markets to survive or thrive, the National Business Expo willhelp companies exam-ine their approach to foreign markets throughbest advice on overseas marketing, brand localisation, overseastendering and grant information. The Expo will have four mainbusi-ness centres to include professional advice; business support,business services and most importantly finance covering seed capital,venture capital, loan capital, grant funding and regional based funds.Pat Burke of Grant Thornton which has built its reputation on helpingSMEs achieve their goals, comments, “This Expo is all about businesspracticality – it’s not about talk, it’s about doing. We will be on handBank of Ireland is to provide support and guidance by providingone-to-one advice to help borrowers. Gerry Prizemen, Head of SmallBusiness and Agriculture, Bank of Ireland comments, “Entrepreneursand business start-ups will receive specific finance advice to helpthem meet their business objectives. We have a relationship with onein three busi-nesses in Ireland and we want to support our customersto grow in their respective sec-tors. Economic recovery starts locallyand we encourage all attendees, whether start-ups, or establishedbusinesses, to come and talk to us openly about their banking needsas we are keen to provide credit to meet growth ambitions”. Bank ofIreland will host a range of seminars including Credit Clinics, workshops for women entrepreneurs, seminars on in-ternational trade andcurrency management and a workshop focussed on senior entrepreneurs.Vodafone Ireland as digital partner will run a series of Smart Start-Up Networking Sessions on ecommerce; social media; marketingand business productivity. Claire Reynolds, Small Business Manager,Vodafone Ireland said, “We’ve been listening to start-ups keen to buildbusiness knowledge, particularly around how technology can enablegrowth and so we have set up the Vodafone Smart Start Up networkin direct response. These sessions will give businesses unique access toadvice, equipping them with additional skills in areas such as ecommerceand social media, gearing for growth.”Who should come? Those who are starting a business, small tomedium sized businesses looking to expand, or those lookingto expand by taking on export markets. The National BusinessExpo takes place on Friday, 8 th March and Saturday, 9 th March2013. To find out more about exhibiting or attending, go to www.businessexpo.ie