Entrepreneurs Line Up To Progress Business Plans

More than 3,000 entrepreneurs are set to see their business plans developed this year as part of The Regional Start initiative.

The scheme invited people to get help turning their business ideas into tangible business plans that could help them to secure funding from banks or other potential investors.

In its fourth year, the initiative is now under the remit of the new 11 councils and is delivered by Invest NI, Enterprise Northern Ireland and the Local Enterprise Agency network.

Since the programme started, companies have been launched in almost all sectors with an upsurge of businesses in the leisure, food and creative industries.

Enterprise Northern Ireland chief executive Gordon Gough said around 3,400 plans a year have formulated through the scheme which has seen thousands of businesses created.

“We are encouraging people with a great business idea to get in touch,” he said.

“We have business advisers who offer bespoke one to one mentoring to help bring people’s business ideas to life, with a variety of workshops open to participants. Business plans are an important first step in the start-up process, helping attract potential investors and secure funding.

“Northern Ireland has a wealth of entrepreneurs with great business ideas. The aim of this initiative is to help those entrepreneurs put together a business plan to help kick start their own business.”

Among the initiative’s success stories is Aimee Meehan who took part last year and started Aspire Ballet as a result.

“I’ve always wanted to start my own business and the Regional Start Initiative gave me the opportunity to do so,” she said,

“Putting together a business plan can be a costly expenditure, so the help I received was invaluable. My business has just started out but is already thriving. I’d recommend anyone with an idea for a business to speak to their local council and enterprise agency.”

Further information on the programme is available at www.enterpriseni.com.

Source: irishnews.com

Contact us at Omagh Enterprise on 028 8224 9494 to Start a Business.