Focus on RSI: Michael Gallagher – MG Pro Events

MG Pro Events provide a Golf Pro Shop, Golf Tuition, Golf Trolley Hire and also coordinate the annual Irish Junior Open event at Clandeboye Golf Club in County Down.
Clandeboye is one of the top golf clubs in Ireland and to compliment this they have their new professional shop established by Michael Gallagher, which is up there with the best in the country. They cater for all ages and price ranges as well as stocking leading brands including Calvin Klein, Galvin Green, Oscar Jacobson and many more. They are the only shop to supply Clandeboye Golf Club and Irish Junior Open crested merchandise. Michael describes his business venture are “Enjoying and fulfilling!”
“The Regional Start Initiative was recommended to me as a way of starting the business. Creating a business plan is a very time consuming and complex process. Lois was hugely supportive throughout the course of the programme and continued to provide advice when needed.”
“I’d highly recommend anyone with an idea for a business to get in touch with their Local Enterprise Agency and Council.”

We are now recruiting for Exploring Enterprise 3 Programme.

This is a pre-start programme which will support activities to extend the employment opportunities of unemployed, long-term unemployed and inactive people by helping them to enter, remain and make progress in sustained employment.

There will be a focus on people with disabilities and health conditions, lone parents, older workers, young people not in education employment or training, women and people with low or no qualifications.

Ultimately, EEP3 is designed to fill a gap in the provision of enterprise support by addressing the needs of people who are not yet ready to progress to self-employment ad operates as a mechanism to develop a latent pool of entrepreneurship talent within NI’s most deprived communities / groups.

We will provide accredited training and development to participants through the network of Local Enterprise Agencies. Participants do not need to have a specific business idea to join; the programme provides and insight into starting a business whilst allowing participants to work towards achieving a qualification.

On successful completion of the CCEA accredited training course participants will be awarded a Level 1 in Understanding Business Enterprise. In addition the programme will guide and assist individuals into and through the mainstream business support options.

Eligibility:

• You must be unemployed, part-time employed or in part-time training
• Must be over 16
• Must be able to commit to training

Benefits:

• Completely FREE
• Gain a qualification – QCF Level 1 in Understanding Business Enterprise (CCEA)
• Meet new people
• Gain skills to enter Self-Employment / Employment

Training Dates:

• October 5th 2016
• October 7th 2016
• October 12th 2016
• October 14th 2016
• October 19th 2016
• October 21st 2016

Need more information?

For further information and to register your interest contact Shauna on shauna@cookstownenterprise.com or by phone on 028 86763660.

By now we’re sure you’ve all noticed our rebranding. To keep the image of the company fresh and up to date Cookstown Enterprise has recently completed a rebranding process which provides us with a modern and dynamic new corporate identity. The new logo and colours reflect the values of the organisation which provides a unique package of support services to the micro and small business sector within Cookstown, Mid Ulster and further afield.

A core element of our business is making available for rent business property to accommodate start up and developing businesses. In addition to the head office complex at Derryloran Industrial Estate a range of business premises are available at four other locations locally. Fortunately at present our overall occupancy levels at all locations is almost 100% however commercial, industrial, retail and office accommodation is available on a ‘first come first served’ basis. If you would like to enquire about property contact Mary on 028 8676 3660

We have some exciting developments on the horizon. Our latest property initiative will be launched in early September when Mid Ulster Storage Solutions will be unveiled. A managed compound providing safe and secure ‘lock up’ storage on flexible and competitive terms is currently under construction. If you are interested in finding storage solutions for your business, you can find out more by using the contact page of our website and Mary will update you.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish Jessica Dallas the best of luck as she launches her new hair and beauty salon in Oldtown Street, Cookstown. Jessica recently completed her business plan through the Regional Start Initiative.

Her drive and ambition have seen her achieve her ‘Colour Chemistry Masters Degree’ and following a successful period as an independent stylist locally, Jessica has now built her own team for the salon. Tracey, a fabulous stylist, and MUA Jessica Clarke will be based in “Jessica Dallas Hair and Beauty.”

You can like Jessica’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jessicadallashairandbeauty and if you are interested in becoming your own boss and would like to create a business plan, please contact andrea via the website contact form, or phone the office on 028 8676 3660

Caroline Creggan Dance School is located at unit 30, here in Cookstown Enterprise Centre Caroline Creggan Dance School is located at unit 30, here in Cookstown Enterprise Centre, a convenient and easily accessible venue for daytime, evening and weekends and accessible parking. The dance school has just entered its fifth year in business offering ballet, tap, modern, lyrical and acro classes to local children.  Since the school’s inception, the students have amassed an impressive number of competition awards and a 100% pass rate at examinations.

Caroline herself comes from a strong performance background and is fully qualified by IDTA, BTDA, LAMDA and PTA to teach dance. She is consistently training to be able to offer new dance syllabi to the students and also offers Speech and Drama.

Classes start for children as young as 18 months, where they can wiggle and giggle their way through Melody Bear ballet. This provides excellent exercise and social opportunities for youngsters and as they get older, they can progress into the exam classes or even become competitive dancers at Arts festivals. The dance troupes are often called on to perform at events in the local council area and the dance school is growing from strength-to-strength.

Andrea at Cookstown Enterprise Centre said “The CCDS is an excellent example of how taking the leap into self-employment can be a huge success. There was a substantial market for dance classes in the Cookstown area and Caroline’s experience, as well as her natural warmth with children meant that her business could be established and grow very quickly.”

If you’re thinking of setting up a business in the creative industry, give Andrea a call on 028 8676 3660 or andrea@cookstownenterprise.com for free advice on becoming self employed.

If you would like to get in touch with the “Caroline Creggan Dance School” you can follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CarolineCregganDanceSchool/

Please note that Cookstown Enterprise Centre will be closed from Monday July 11th until Monday July 18th. We will reply to all correspondence on our return.

New Mid Ulster Business Development Programme Launched

A new programme, funded by Mid Ulster District Council and delivered by Cookstown Enterprise Centre, is offering up to 20 local businesses the opportunity to accelerate their growth and competitiveness.

The Business Development Programme, part of the Council’s overall economic development strategy, is now open for applications from micro and small Mid Ulster-based businesses which would like to benefit from a diagnostic audit, followed by up to 3.5 days’ one-to-one consultancy support worth over £1,000. This support can comprise one or a mix of core business areas, including the development of business plans to Invest NI standard to effective pricing, implementation of quality standards, sales and marketing, human resource and financial management.

Speaking about the programme, Chair of the Council’s Development Committee, Councillor Frances Burton, said:

“The micro and small business sector is a vital part of our local economy and it is crucial that even the smallest businesses have the opportunity to access professional business support and capitalise on business development opportunities to enhance their future competitiveness.

“This is exactly what this programme aims to do, by ensuring knowledge and resources are within the grasp of small businesses and I would encourage those which are eligible to take advantage of the opportunity currently on offer”.

To be eligible to apply, businesses must be located in the Mid Ulster District Council area and not eligible to receive similar assistance from elsewhere. Applicants should note this is a competitive application process and demand is expected to be high.

For further information and to request an application form for the Mid Ulster Business Development Programme, please contact Cookstown Enterprise Centre on 028 8676 3660 or email: andrea@cookstownenterprise.com.

Completed application forms must be returned by 4pm Friday 10 June 2016.

Speaker: Ian Farley

Ian Farley has his own tax consultancy business, IF Tax Consultancy Limited. He specialises in preparing R&D tax credit claims for companies and also advising in relation to the patent box.

He is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser with over 15 years of experience working within the corporation tax departments of PwC and BDO in Belfast. During these employments he was the office expert for both R&D tax credits, preparing hundreds of successful claims, and also more recently the patent box. He also has a scientific background with a first class honours degree in Chemistry.

In this session, Ian will cover.

• Highlight the benefits available
•        HMRC’s Current Thinking
•        Provide practical examples
•        How a company can claim
• Patent Box – provide a quick overview

Date: Tuesday 24^th May 2016

8:15am (Registration and light breakfast)

9am – 10am Event

Admission £20

Location Cookstown Enterprise Centre

To register contact andrea@cookstownenterprise.com or call 028 676 3660

Cookstown Enterprise Centre would like to warmly invite you along to an ‘Effective Financial Management Seminar’ on Wednesday 6th April 2016 from 9am – 10am:

To register for this event, please contact Andrea McGuckin or Samantha Thom on 8676 3660 or email andrea@cookstownenterprise.com or samantha@cookstownenterprise.com