NI Enterprise Barometer 2025

Take part in the NI Enterprise Barometer and have the chance to win a £250 voucher for Elephant Rock Hotel

There’s still time to take part. The survey only takes 10–12 minutes, and by completing it you will help shape the future of enterprise support in Northern Ireland, make sure local business voices are heard at policy level and have the chance to be entered into our prize draw as a thank you for your time.

Complete the survey and be in with a chance to win a £250 Voucher for the Elephant Rock Hotel!

Don’t miss your chance to share your experience – and win!

ABOUT THIS EVENT

The Go Succeed Start team hosts this FREE in-person ‘Understanding HMRC and Tax Returns for New Business Owners’ masterclass; a clear and supportive guide to understanding your UK tax obligations.

Taxes don’t have to feel overwhelming. Whether you’re newly self-employed or running a small business, learning how to handle HMRC and your tax return is a powerful step toward financial clarity and peace of mind.

This workshop is designed to demystify the world of UK business taxes. You’ll leave feeling informed, organised, and far more confident about what you need to do – and when.

In this workshop, we’ll explore:

What HMRC actually expects from you
Key tax terms and what they mean (no jargon, promise!)
Understanding your Self Assessment tax return
Allowable expenses and how to claim them properly
Important deadlines and how to stay compliant
What to do if you make a mistake or feel behind
Simple systems to keep your records in order

This isn’t about making you a tax expert — it’s about helping you understand your responsibilities, avoid stress, and keep more of what you earn.

This is for you if:

You’re a sole trader, limited company director, or freelancer
You’ve never submitted a tax return — or dread doing it each year
You want a better handle on what you can (and can’t) claim
You’d love to feel more in control of your business finances

Join us for a calm, practical session that will take the mystery out of tax and help you feel more empowered in your business.

This Go Succeed workshop is open to all individuals in the early stages of their business, located in the Mid Ulster District Council area and neighbouring Council areas.

Registration instructions: This event is free for individuals. Please note, your email confirmation and eTicket will come from noreply@glistrr.com, please add this to your list of trusted accounts to prevent information landing in your junk folder.

Please note as this is an in-person event, the registration numbers for this are restricted. Whilst Go Succeed operates across NI, this event is being hosted by Mid Ulster District Council therefore should the event reach capacity and a waiting list is created, priority access will be given to Businesses based in that area.

This workshop is brought to you as part of Go Succeed NI. Go Succeed represents a significant investment in local entrepreneurs and businesses, funded by the UK Government.

Digital Transformation Flexible Fund

Call 6 of the Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF) is now open for expressions of interest
DTFF supports small and micro businesses in Northern Ireland to invest in advanced digital technologies.

The fund offers grants of £5,000 to £20,000, covering up to 70% of eligible project costs, to help businesses adopt transformative technologies.
You can submit an expression of interest (EOI) to the DTFF to let them know you’d like to apply.

They will review your EOI and, if you meet the eligibility criteria, invite you to submit a full application.

Mid Ulster Pre-Briefing Session:
Date: Tuesday 30 September 2025
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Location: The Burnavon, Burn Road, Cookstown BT80 8DN
Register here

The deadline for Call 6 EOIs is 12 noon on 24 October 2025

GO SUCCEED NI workshops

These FREE workshops cover a variety of topics to help you on your business journey, get registered now!

For the full list of upcoming events go to https://go-succeed.com/events/

We are all about SPACE

SPACE for businesses to work better, grow their venture, collaborate and lead the next big thing.

Meeting SPACE – When you require a private and professional environment our meeting space comprises comfortable, air conditioned rooms which can can be set up to your specific requirements.

Conference SPACE – From round table to theatre style our modern, comfortable conference suites which can accommodate up to forty people, are equipped with high specification interactive audio-visual technology and video conferencing equipment. Rooms are available for rent daily, evenings or weekends by businesses, community and voluntary organizations, tenant companies and the public at competitive rates.

Office SPACE – A diverse range of business office accommodation in sizes from 200 to 1500 square feet are available in our Derryloran Industrial Estate headquarters as well as our William Street town centre hub.

Industrial SPACE – Our multiple sites in Derryloran Industrial Estate provide industrial and small factory premises to accommodate start-up and growth businesses in a size range from 750 to 6,000 square feet.

Secure SPACE – “Boxed & Locked” is a Secure Storage Unit Solution suitable for both household self-storage and business self-storage located in Derryloran Industrial Estate.

Retail SPACE – Small to medium sized starter and growth retail units are available to rent in Cookstown town centre. These competitively priced shop units provide start-up and growth retailers with a town centre presence at affordable rents and rates.

Residential SPACE – To contribute to the regeneration of Cookstown town centre, Cookstown Enterprise Centre has invested in centrally located and affordable residential apartment accommodation

Flexi SPACE – The most recent addition to our SPACE options is our Flexi-Space facility comprising co-working desks, individual workstations, and private offices in our stunning new open plan ‘Working Near Home’ facility. Daily, weekly, and monthly rental packages are available at rates as flexible as the space through our user-friendly online booking, payment, and door access system. For more information on flexispace visit flexispace.cookstownenterprise.com/

Contact :

Cookstown Enterprise Centre, Derryloran Industrial Estate, Sandholes Road, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone BT80 9LU

Tel: 028 8676 3660

Email: info@cookstownenterprise.com

Web: cookstownenterprise.com

Invest Northern Ireland

Regional Advice Clinic

Helping businesses innovate, export and remain competitive by providing support and access they need to grow their business.

Invest Northern Ireland in partnership with local stakeholders including, InterTradeIreland, Mid Ulster District Council, South West College and Mid Ulster Labour Market Partnership, are hosting a regional business advice clinic.

The advice clinic will take place at:

Cookstown Enterprise Centre, Cookstown – Wednesday 20 August

10.00am – 12 noon

The Regional Business Advice Clinics will showcase support offerings available for your business from each of the attending stakeholders, providing attendees with access to valuable resources and support, for example:

Guidance on how to create a business plan
Support to help your business grow
Assistance in the identification of new markets outside Northern Ireland
Information on how to secure training via your local college and other specialist supports including accreditation for green skills education and training
Advice in relation to cross border trade and investment opportunities

https://www.investni.com/support-for-business/regional-business-network/regional-business-advice-clinics

On Friday 28th March 2025, Minister Fleur Anderson MP accepted an invitation from Cathal Mallaghan MP to come to Cookstown Enterprise Centre (CEC).

Minister Anderson who spent two hours at the company’s Derryloran Industrial Estate Head Office was welcomed by the Chair, Trevor Wilson and Vice-Chair, Elizabeth Kearns

Mrs Kearns provided a brief account of the background of the company which was established as a social enterprise in 1992. She explained that CEC has been a registered Charity with accreditation since 1996. The Board comprising six volunteer directors provide strategic direction to the management and small team of loyal, long-term staff.

The General Manager, Jim Eastwood, delivered a presentation outlining the progress the company has made during its thirty-three years. He stressed the importance of rental income generated from the CEC owned and managed property portfolio located at six sites within Cookstown.

He explained that the company had undertaken six major capital property projects since 1992 and the impact which CEC has made on the micro and small business sector locally.

The company provides a range of space for various local small businesses with an average occupancy of 95% consistently achieved.

Mr Eastwood went on to outline the most recent property acquisition which is the vacant Social Security offices located in the town centre at Fairhill Road. Plans to refurbish the derelict listed building are at an advanced stage with its important heritage being retained and displayed for the public.

This initiative represents a further investment of just over £1 million in Cookstown with essential funds being sought from several sources to match CEC’s own investment.

Following a positive round table discussion during which the Minister agreed to keep CEC updated with any significant potential funding opportunities, the Minister agreed to take a short tour of the CEC facilities. She was particularly impressed with the new CEC Flexi Space, a co-working facility which the company launched in 2023.

Minister Anderson wished the organisation continued success and congratulated the directors, management, and staff of the Enterprise Centre, for their entrepreneurial initiative and innovation that has benefited the local community.

Mid Ulster Business News and Events

Mid Ulster District Council have a dedicated Business Support Section established on its website providing up-to-date information to the business community.

https://www.midulstercouncil.org/business

Innovation Voucher Workshop

Cookstown Enterprise Centre

Friday 31st January 2025

South West College invites you to their Innovation Voucher Workshop in collaboration with Invest NI. Whether you are looking to develop a new product, improve a process, or find a solution to an existing problem, an innovation voucher can help you explore innovative ideas and opportunities, and provide a boost to your business.

09:30 Registration & Tea/coffee

10:00 Opening address

Innovation and industry support – Sean McKenna, Innovation Manager, SWC

Climbing the Innovation Escalator – Gerard Heatley, Grace Consultancy

My Innovation Journey with WYSEBITES – Joanna Neeson, WYSEBITES

Innovation Voucher application process – Pearse McAnallen, Invest Northern Ireland

One-to-one conversation with Invest NI technical advisors and SWC about your project idea and help with the voucher application

11:30 Close

To register please click the link below:

Innovation Voucher Workshop – 31st January 2025

For further information, please contact Paul Cairns on 028 8225 5223 or email paul.cairns@swc.ac.uk

Cookstown Enterprise Centre recently made its annual Christmas donation to two locally based charities.

This year we donated £250 to Charis Cancer Care and £250 to The Hub Cookstown. This was in lieu of sending Christmas cards.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Trevor Wilson Chairman and Directors of Cookstown Enterprise Centre present cheque donations to Rose Perry from Charis Cancer Care and Carol Doey representing the The Hub Cookstown.