Oldtown Bistro, Regional Start Business

Having over 20 years-experience in the catering & hospitality industry between them, culinary duo Julie McLean and Mary McAtasney identified an opportunity to put their skills to better use and opened their own bistro style restaurant in Cookstown.

Before signing up to the Regional Start Initiative this time last year, Oldtown Bistro was just a vision. Fast forward a year and after working one to one with a business advisor, they have now been trading for 8 months, employ 5 staff and both agree it’s the best decision they have ever made. “It’s hard work but it’s very rewarding”, explains Mary.

By participating in the Regional Start Initiative at Cookstown Enterprise Centre they were able to develop their business plan with the support of their business advisor and their journey into self-employment started. ‘The business plan helped me to make sense of things and made me consider things that I hadn’t even thought about’ says Julie.

Working with their business advisor they were able to understand and clearly see what they had to do to make the business work. “The business plan allowed us to work out our start-up costs and financial forecast which ultimately helped us secure funding from our bank”. Added Julie

“It’s great to be our own bosses, now we can use our own ideas and do things our way”.

If you are interested in starting your own business, contact the Regional Start Initiative on 0800 027 0639 / Cookstown Enterprise Agency Tel: 028 8676 3660 or visit www.goforitni.com for more information.

Congratulations to all students from Holy Trinity College and Cookstown High School who recently took part in the ‘Business Enterprise Competition’ hosted by Rotary International, Bank of Ireland and Cookstown Enterprise Centre. Well Done Everyone!

Cookstown Enterprise welcome Samantha Thom who will be completing a three month work placement here. Samantha is in the final year of her Business Studies degree at South West College. We look forward to given her the opportunity to experience work across all areas of our business!

High Specification Office Suite To Let

• Self-Contained, Furnished Office Suite
• Excellent Condition & Decor Throughout
• Fully Air Conditioned
• High Spec Cabling Installed
• Intruder Alarm System
• 24Hr Access
• Flexible Tenancy Agreement
• Competitive Rent
• Available Immediately

For more information or to arrange a viewing please contact Mary Monaghan:

• marym@cookstownenterprise.com
• or by phone on 028 86763660.

Cookstown Enterprise recently made its annual Christmas donation to two locally based charities.  Pictured receiving their £250 donation from Cookstown Enterprise Chairman, Trevor Wilson are Grainne O’Neill Assistant Manager of the Niamh Louise Foundation and Mona McGlade Support Worker of the local branch of Alzheimer’s Society.  Also pictured is Cookstown Enterprise General Manager Jim Eastwood.

(L-R) Jim Eastwood, Grainne O’Neill, Mona McGlade, Trevor Wilson.

(L-R) Jim Eastwood,  Mona McGlade, Trevor Wilson.

(L-R) Jim Eastwood, Grainne O’Neill,  Trevor Wilson.

Following the success of previous courses delivered under the Exploring Enterprise Programme the current programme is now partly completed.  The course enables those who are unemployed or economically inactive to develop skills to enhance their individual chances of securing employment or entering self-employment. The accredited programme will also provide participants with a Level 1 Qualification in Understanding Business Enterprise.

For the current participants the second part of the programme will commence on the follow dates:

• The Opportunity Workshop                                 Wednesday 6th January 2016
• Resource & Team Workshop                                Wednesday 13th January 2016
• Presenting a Business Idea Workshop               Wednesday 20th January 2016

This project is part funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund 2014-2020 Investment for Jobs and Growth Programme, the Department for Employment & Learning, Enterprise Northern Ireland, the Local Enterprise Agencies and Mid Ulster District Council.

EEP3 participants working hard.

We are delighted to launch the new Cookstown Enterprise Website. As part of our recent brand refresh we have built a new mobile friendly website.

Throughout our new site you will find up to date information on our current and past programmes, what business property is available from Cookstown Enterprise and general advice on how we can help your new or existing business.

Cookstown Enterprise is the Centre of Excellence offering support for Business Start-up and existing Businesses.