Business Start-Up: Hills Interiors

Hills Interiors

Hills Interiors & The Wee Tea Room can be a one stop shop for many. It provides a range of giftware, shabby chic products, crafts, jewellery, pottery, accessories, occasional vintage and shabby chic furniture. Its Tea Room gives people the opportunity to meet with friends & family or celebrate a special occasion.

Proprietor Melissa Brimage wanted to turn her love of crafts into a business and now operates ‘Hills Interiors’ from premises in Pomeroy. The Regional Start Initiative helped Melissa to plan her course of action for starting the business, to carry out relevant market research into the viability of the business idea and ultimately helped her consolidate all her information into a robust business plan and financial forecasts.

Ruth is a new tenant to Cookstown Enterprise Centre and proprietor of Feet First Podiatry. She is a member of the society of chiropodists and podiatrists and has recently qualified with BSc Hons in Podiatry.
With the help of her local enterprise agency and her appointed business advisor she created a business plan and is now practicing podiatry from her newly acquired unit.
“When I first graduated I was doing home visit appointments only and then I found the perfect unit in Cookstown Enterprise Centre to open a practice at. The treatments that I provide are hard skin and corn removal, nail care, bio-mechanical assessments, diabetic foot health checks and foot care advice. I look forward to starting my new venture here!”

C. McILvar Ltd is a small but leading chartered planning consultancy firm which began operations in September 2013. The company was formed by Mrs Carol Gourley (nee McILvar) whom after spending 10 years of her professional life working within N.I’s private planning sector decided to establish her own practice.
In 2013 when public confidence in spending remained low, Carol recognised a niche in the market for a trustworthy consultancy service which would provide chartered planning intelligence for architectural practices, applicants and developers. At a time when economic growth remained sluggish after the recession and the challenges of reduced public monies and elevated inflation had taken their toll, Carol identified that opportunities existed to provide expert but reasonably priced planning intelligence for architects, developers, farmers, renewable energy companies and the general public.
Carol, a fully chartered and a professional member of the Royal Town Planning Institute has worked endlessly over the past 3 years to earn a reputation for integrity, intelligence, and experience and most importantly, delivering results. Evidence of this can be seen by her wide portfolio of clients and the repeat business she continues to generate.
C. McILvar Ltd provides high quality advice and practical solutions on all planning matters working within Northern Ireland’s complex, multifaceted planning sector.

If you’re a Rural business, ready for investment then there is still time to register on the Rural Business Investment Scheme mandatory workshops.

There is one taking place in Cookstown Enterprise Centre on  Thursday 6th October 2016 at 6:30pm. You can register for this by emailing rdp@midulstercouncil.org with your business details.

News Release
7th September 2016

New Mid Ulster Rural Business Start Scheme

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and Mid Ulster District Council have launched an innovative new Scheme to increase the number of new businesses established by young people in rural areas of Mid Ulster. The Rural Business Start Scheme which opened on 5 September 2016, will provide funding towards the costs associated with getting a new business up and running.
Announcing the opening of the Scheme, Rural Affairs Minister Michelle McIlveen said: “I am pleased that my Department and Mid Ulster District Council are working in partnership to deliver the Rural Business Start Scheme, which will be funded with £130,000 under my Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) programme.

“This pilot scheme will run for one year and aims to test how targeted funding can address financial poverty in rural areas by supporting the creation of diverse new businesses in this council area. I encourage young people living in rural areas of Mid Ulster who have recently completed a Business Plan to consider applying to the Rural Business Start Scheme.

“The Scheme is just one element of my Department’s Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme and a good example of how an innovative, partnership approach can support the economic and social development of rural areas.”

Grants in the range of £500 to £4,999 will be available and up to 50% of the total capital costs associated with establishing a new business can be funded by the Scheme. In order to be considered for a grant, applicants must be aged between 18 and 30 years of age, in a rural location within the Mid Ulster Council area and have recently completed a business plan. The quality of Business Plans will be reviewed by Invest NI as part of the assessment process and Council will also be represented on the panel and indeed throughout the roll-out of the programme.
Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Trevor Wilson welcomed the Scheme, “Mid Ulster District Council and DAERA are working together on the Rural Business Start Scheme. I am confident that this will encourage new businesses and stimulate economic benefits across rural areas. Mid Ulster is widely renowned for its entrepreneurial culture and support from this Scheme will further enhance this reputation. I would urge anyone who has completed their Business Plan after 1 April 2016 to contact DAERA to see how the Scheme could help their business grow”.

The Programme will prioritise applications led by women and those from the Council’s target sectors of manufacturing/engineering, construction, retail and professional and tradable services. Applications from those living in an area of deprivation will be awarded a higher weighting also.

DAERA will accept applications up until 12 noon on Friday 30 September 2016. Further information on the Scheme and on how to apply is available from the DAERA website (https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/rural-business-start-scheme) or by contacting DAERA on 028 8225 3512.

Gareth Hutton and Darren Warnock – Healthy @ Hutton’s

‘No more food prep, just heat and eat’. Healthy @ Hutton’s produce and retail a wholesale range of healthy prepared meals, from their existing family business premises at Hutton’s Butcher Shop, in Cookstown.

Their business presently targets weight loss clubs, gyms/sports clubs and convenience food customers – singles, busy professionals and the elderly.

Proprietors Gareth and Darren are confident that their focus, hardworking ethic and extensive experience will assist them in providing a superior product range and enable them to manage and develop their business successfully.

“Through the Regional Start Initiative you can access support to develop a business plan, one of the most important parts of setting up a new business. You will also receive mentoring from a business adviser who will guide you through your business plan and signpost you towards business start-up resources.”

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