Christmas Presentation to Local Charities
Cookstown Enterprise Centre recently made its annual Christmas donation to two locally based charities.
This year we donated £250 to SVP Cookstown 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 SVP Cookstown and The Hub Cookstown.
Date/Time |
Enterprise Week Webinar |
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Monday 13 November
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AI Uncovered: The impact of Artificial Intelligence on Business Join Paul Clark, UTV, and guests at ‘AI Uncovered’, an enlightening panel discussion featuring AI experts Jason Bell (The AI Provocateur) and Naomh McElhatton (dara&co); who will unravel the mysteries of Artificial Intelligence and its profound impact on local businesses.Elaine Donaghy McCrory, Terex’s Global Marketing Manager will also share how the company is being impacted.This event is your gateway to understanding the transformative power of this cutting-edge technology.Register online for AI Uncovered: The impact of Artificial Intelligence on Business |
| Monday 13 November 1.30pm – 2.30pm Virtual |
Lights! Camera! Action! Unlock the Power of Video for your Business Facilitated by Niamh MacAuley, Purple Dot Media. In today’s digital age, video has become the undisputed king of content. Join video content creator Niamh MacAuley, Purple Dot Media, for a practical masterclass, where you’ll dive deep into the world of video marketing and acquire the skills needed to create captivating videos and also boost your confidence on camera.This masterclass is designed for business owners and entrepreneurs eager to harness the potential of video marketing. Whether you’re just starting your video journey or looking to refine existing skills, this event offers a roadmap to success.Register online for Lights! Camera! Action! Unlock the Power of Video for your Business |
| Tuesday 14 November 10am – 12pm (Refreshments and Breakfast served from 9.30am) Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy
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Employment Matters Janis Simpson-Mahoney, Managing Director |
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Tuesday 14 November
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Leading the Way: Self Leadership and Business ResilienceFacilitated by Enda McNulty, McNulty Performance. Enda McNulty, Elite Performance Coach and Best-Selling Published Author, coaches some of the leading companies in the world including, Microsoft, Facebook, & Intel. Enda will prompt you to stop and think and to reflect on how well you are leading in all aspects of your business life.This webinar is facilitated by Yvonne Mitchell, founder of Out of the Box Consulting, who has worked for over 20 years in global organisations, including Microsoft, where she was Chief of Staff. First 10 attendees will receive a signed copy of Enda’s newest book, Commit 2 Lead!Register online for Leading the Way: Self Leadership and Business Resilience |
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Tuesday 14 November
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Meet the Experts Join us for an exclusive opportunity to connect with over 40 experts across business sectors, all under one roof. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or an established small business owner, this event is your gateway to personalised solutions and insights.From export and energy experts to marketing and finance gurus, the experts will help you tackle business challenges head on. Register online for Meet the Experts |
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Wednesday 15 November
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Powerful Tourism
Facilitated by Tina O’Dwyer, The Tourism Space and Ryan Donnelly, Letteran Lodges. Founder of Letteran Lodges, Ryan Donnelly, |
| Wednesday 15 November 1.30pm – 2.30pm Virtual
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InstaGrowth: Mastering Instagram Facilitated by Cara Jackson, Digital 24. Designed specifically for small businesses, this session will be packaged with practical insights and will explore how you can use Instagram to grow your brand. |
| Wednesday 15 November 7pm – 9pm *Invite only Glenavon House Hotel
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Mid Ulster LMP Celebration Mid Ulster Labour Market Partnership (LMP) Through the various programmes, participants have gained accredited qualifications as well as receiving employability support and mentoring, with many returning to the labour market as a result. Others have continued their journey by re-entering education to gain additional skills before seeking employment. During the event, participants will speak about the benefits of taking part in the programmes and the change to their daily lives. |
| Thursday 16 November 9.50am – 11am (Refreshments and Breakfast served from 9.30am) The Burnavon, Cookstown
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Trailblazers Prepare to be inspired, educated, and Sandra Quinn (Outsource Group), Grainne Bannon (ShareIt.biz) and Eve Beattie (Fuss Free Funnels) have founded successful businesses, grew organisations and continually honed their skills along the way. You will come away from this event with a renewed sense of purpose and passion for |
| Thursday 16 November 10am – 1pm (Refreshments & Breakfast served) The Junction, Dungannon |
Operational Excellence Workshops
Do you want practical advice and guidance on how to improve processes, reduce waste, implement change, and improve employee engagement to improve your business productivity? Invest Northern Ireland, in partnership with Mid Ulster District Council, is delivering this as part of a series of 5 Operational Excellence workshops. The workshops will be delivered over 5 consecutive Thursdays and include opportunities for one-to-one mentoring sessions. |
| Thursday 16 November 1.30pm – 2.30pm Virtual
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Influencer Magic Facilitated by Francesca Morelli, VAVA Influence. Learn how to find the perfect influencers for your brand and hear real-life success stories. |
| Friday 17 November
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If you attend any of our events, your name will automatically go forward into a prize draw with the opportunity to win some great prizes. The more events you attend, the more opportunity you have of winning a prize! Winners will be announced on Friday 17 November 2023. |
View the full programme of events, and register your place now, at: www.midulstercouncil.org/EnterpriseWeek.
NI Enterprise Barometer 2023 is LIVE – Your Voice Matters. Influence the future of your business? 🚀 Participate in the NI Enterprise Barometer 2023
The annual NI Enterprise Barometer provides an invaluable opportunity for entrepreneurs and business owners to share their insights and experiences. As a locally connected business of Cookstown Enterprise Centre your input is critical in helping us understand the challenges and opportunities that shape the landscape for micro and small businesses.
By participating in this survey, you’re actively informing policy and shaping future strategy that will address the distinctive needs of local micro and small businesses like yours and will contribute to nurturing the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
Survey completion time is approximately 5 – 10 minutes. On completion, you could be in with the chance of winning £250 worth of tech vouchers.
To complete the survey, click here: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PD39XJ7
Tourism Northern Ireland is hosting Experience Development Roadshows for tourism businesses that are developing or delivering saleable, bookable visitor experiences within the context of the tourism brand ‘Northern Ireland – Embrace a Giant Spirit’.
The free-to-attend, in-person sessions will take place in tourism and hospitality venues across Northern Ireland and will cover methods of engagement with the Embrace a Giant Spirit brand and the opportunities available to your business within the new Experience Development Framework.
Date: Wednesday 11 October 2023
Time: 10am – 2pm
Location: HMS Caroline, Belfast, BT3 9DT
Cost: Free
Registration -Tourism Experience Development Roadshow
Invest NI – Ambition to Grow Programme
Eligible businesses must:
- have the ambition to grow
- be ambitious, innovative businesses with the ambition to grow sales.
- have a product or service with a strong USP to take to markets outside Northern Ireland
- are a start-up or an established company that has not worked with Invest NI before
- need government support to create great jobs and to sell innovative products or services outside Northern Ireland
The application call for Ambition to Grow will close Friday 16 June, 15:00.
Further information can be found at https://www.investni.com/support-for-business/ambition-to-grow
EASTER HOLIDAYS
Please note our office is closed Monday 10th & Tuesday 11th April 2023.
Re-opening
Wednesday 12th April 2023.
Happy Easter from all at CEC!
From 1 April 2023 the minimum amount you can pay your employees has changed.
See the table below that shows the current minimum wage rates:
| Age | Minimum Wage Rates from 1 April 2023 |
|---|---|
| 23 years old and over | £10.42 |
| 21-22 years old | £10.18 |
| 18-20 years old | £7.49 |
| 16-17 years old | £5.28 |
| Apprentices | £5.28* |
*Apprentices under the age of 19 years old or aged 19 years old or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship are entitled to a minimum hourly rate of £5.28 per hour (this rate does not apply to Higher Level Apprenticeships).
Apprentices are entitled to the minimum wage for their age if they are aged 19 years or over and have completed the first year of their apprenticeship.
The National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage in the UK apply to workers in Northern Ireland. These minimum wage rates are the hourly rate that workers should be paid by their employers depending on their age or whether they are an apprentice.
National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates change every April. The current minimum wage rates are in effect from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
This year there will be an additional bank holiday for the King’s Coronation which takes place on Saturday 6th May 2023 with the additional one-off bank holiday on Monday 8 May 2023.
The full list of expected dates and days of Northern Ireland bank and public holidays for 2023 are listed below.
Bank and public holiday dates for Northern Ireland in 2023
| Holiday | 2023 |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 2 January |
| St Patrick’s Day | 17 March |
| Good Friday | 7 April |
| Easter Monday | 10 April |
| Early May Bank Holiday | 1 May |
| Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III | 8 May |
| Spring Bank Holiday | 29 May |
| Battle of the Boyne / Orangemen’s Day | 12 July |
| Summer Bank Holiday | 28 August |
| Christmas Day | 25 December |
| Boxing Day | 26 December |
Source: NI Direct.
British Summer Time
British Summer Time (BST) starts on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October, at 1.00 am Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
| BST | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Clocks go forward | 26 March |
| Clocks go back | 29 October |
Cookstown Enterprise will be closed for the Christmas Holidays from Friday 22nd December 2022, and will reopen on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a happy, safe and successful 2023.
Cookstown Enterprise Centre recently made its annual Christmas donation to two locally based charities.
This year Cookstown Enterprise donated £250 to SVP Cookstown 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 Peter Cassidy Director of Cookstown Enterprise Centre present a £250 cheque donation to Anne Coney & Sean Kelly of SVP Cookstown.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Trevor Wilson Chairman and Liz Kearns Director of Cookstown Enterprise Centre present a £250 cheque donation to Carol Doey of the The Hub Cookstown Cookstown.