Christmas Presentation to Local Charities

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

This year Cookstown Enterprise donated £250 to Club Angels Cookstown and £250 to O40 Cookstown. This was in lieu of sending Christmas cards.

Trevor Wilson Chairman of Cookstown Enterprise Centre presents a cheque to Eileen McGuckin representing Club Angels Cookstown. Jim Eastwood General Manager of Cookstown Enterprise Centre is also pictured.

Trevor Wilson Chairman of Cookstown Enterprise Centre presents a cheque to Margaret Gilbert, Chair of O40 Cookstown.  Also pictured is Jim Eastwood General Manager Cookstown Enterprise Centre.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Trevor Wilson Chairman and Jim Eastwood General Manager of Cookstown Enterprise Centre present a £250 cheque donation to Margaret Gilbert, O40 Cookstown and Eileen McGuckin of Club Angels Cookstown.

Mid Ulster District Council and partners are holding their first ever Enterprise Week  from 18-22 November 2019.

There’s over 25 quality business events taking place throughout the district during the course of the week.

These events are suitable for businesses from all sectors and sizes, from start-up through to growth.

Mid Ulster businesses are encouraged to come along and benefit from the wide range of FREE events being held on their doorstep.

• Download your full programme of events taking place during Mid Ulster Enterprise Week (18-22 Nov 2019)
• Click on the link to register to attend >> www.midulstercouncil.org/enterpriseweek

Cookstown Enterprise Centre

“Your Business Matters“

Are you a new or existing business?

Want to avail of our monthly “Business Advice” Drop in Clinic?

Free & confidential informal appointments available.

Discuss your general business matters with topics such as finance options, employment, marketing etc.

Everyone Welcome.

For further information please contact us on 028 8676 3660 or email info@cookstownenterprise.com

About the Event

InterTradeIreland in conjunction with Cookstown Enterprise Centre, are hosting an information session allowing local businesses to avail of a one-to-one consultation with a subject matter experts on issues in the areas of customs, tax, supply chain and logistics to prepare for different trading procedures post Brexit.

Businesses can also chat with the InterTradeIreland staff to avail of the practical advice and supports available. Attendees can apply for Brexit support vouchers, check product tariffs , avail of online learning on ‘Brexit & Beyond’ and get general advice.

Call in for a chat and see how InterTradeIreland can support your business.

We are now recruiting for our Exploring Enterprise Programme!

It is a FREE programme which provides an insight into starting a business or allows you to take the first steps towards gaining employment.

You will work towards attaining a CCEA Level 1 Qualification in “Understanding Business Enterprise” whilst gaining new skills in: *Marketing * Financial Planning * CV Design / Development * Job Search.

This is an Enterprise Northern Ireland initiative which is part funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014 – 2020, the Department for the Economy, Local Enterprise Agencies and Mid Ulster District Council.

If you, or some-one you know is studying or working less than 16 hours per week and would like a helping hand to improve their employment prospects as well as exploring potential self-employment options then this course is for you.

Limited spaces available. Register your interest by calling Shauna on 028 8676 3660 or email shauna@cookstownenterprise.com

Schedule of Workshops 2019

Here is our Schedule of planned Workshops from Just the Business, a partnership between Cookstown Enterprise and Workspace Enterprises. There is something for all businesses, large and small across Mid Ulster District Council.

👉 To attend you must book through Eventbrite. 👉 Tickets will be made available a few weeks before each event. (but you can put it in your diary!) 👉 If you have topics or an area of support we could source a workshop for please let us know.

If you require any further information please contact us on 028 8676 3660 or email info@cookstownenterprise.com

The Co-Innovate Programme supports SMEs within the manufacturing and tradeable services sectors. Through tailored advice, expertise and interactive workshops.

Register your interest here: https://co-innovateprogramme.eu/events  for the Cookstown Workshop.

This interactive workshop will give you a clear understanding of innovation and how it can be used to benefit your business.

Well done to our Go For It client Serghie who spotted a gap in the local market and went  on to establish a very successful, innovative business Ulster Concrete Pumping. Go For It delivered in Mid Ulster District Council by Cookstown Enterprise helped Serghies business idea to get up and running and he has already surpassed his initial financial projections!

Serghei Hamchevici, originally from Moldova, made the life changing decision to turn his back on long-term employment and chase his dream of running his own business, after spotting a gap in the market for a specialist concrete pumping company.

Serghei launched Ulster Concrete Pumping in May 2018, after going through the Go For It Programme and raising the necessary capital required to purchase a specialised mobile concrete pump.

Serghei explains:

“I was inspired by my wife, who recently took over a thriving clothing alteration and dry-cleaning business. I had worked part-time in the concrete pumping industry, alongside my full-time job, and saw a niche in the market to use small portable pumps, which could be used for day to day building and domestic needs such as driveways and house foundations.”

With less than one year of trading under his belt, Ulster Concrete Pumping is operating ahead of projected sales estimated in the business plan which Serghei refers to as his ‘route map’ to monitor the progress of his business.

“Without the Go For It programme, turning my idea into a feasible business would not have been possible, their help and support was essential. I sat down with my business advisor from Cookstown Enterprise Centre and they helped me to put together my business plan. We looked at everything from finance to forecasting. It really opened my eyes to what was involved.

“I also attended a range of free workshops provided by the programme, including business planning, market research and financial forecasting. These were fantastic and really helped me to learn and grow as a new business owner.”

The Go For It Programme is delivered free of charge by a team of experienced business mentors through Northern Ireland’s wide network of enterprise agencies. It provides expert advice and help to develop a business plan, helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into commercial businesses.

Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Sean McPeake said:

“I was delighted to meet Serghei and hear about his thriving new business, he is clearly reaping the benefits of support from the Go For It programme. Mid Ulster has a strong entrepreneurial culture and it’s one of the Council’s strategic priorities to help maximise opportunities to create and grow district wide businesses and investment. I wish Serghei every success in growing his new venture”.

Jim Eastwood, General Manager of Cookstown Enterprise Centre on behalf of Mid Ulster District Council said:

“Serghei knew exactly what he wanted to do and the equipment he needed to make it a success. His Business Advisor, Shauna Rooney, mentored him in the process of preparing a business plan, focusing on areas such as market research, financial planning and marketing.

“This provided him with a clear plan for the future and helped him secure the necessary Enterprise Northern Ireland loan that transformed his vision into a reality. It is fantastic to see Serghei’s business grow and thrive and we wish him every success for the future.”

If you have a business idea you’d like to develop or if you are thinking about starting a business contact the Go For It team on 0800 027 0639 or visit: www.goforitni.com.

Mid Ulster District Council along with enterprise partners in the council area are hosting a Mid Ulster New Business Showcase giving new local businesses a platform to raise their profile.

Through the Go for it programme we have aided hundreds of local businesses to get up and running and will be featuring over 20 of these at our first ever market-style showcase as well as encouraging possible new entrepreneurs in the local area to think about self-employment.

Come along to show your support to these new local businesses where they will be offering special discounts on the day, and if you are thinking about starting your own business we will have business advisors and representatives from funding sources on hand to talk you through the steps you need to take.

Come along to support local and to get your questions answered about venturing into self-employment.

Free prize draw to win a hamper full of local products!

For more information email jessica.caldwell@catalyst-inc.org