Kerry Entrepreneur Development

Minister Micheal Martin Announces €6.74m Investment in 22 Community Enterprise Centres throughout Ireland – 3 New Centres to be Built in Kerry
“Community Enterprise Centres provide essential support for entrepreneurship in urban and rural areas”- Martin
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Micheál Martin T.D today (Monday 19 November 2007) announced a €6.74m investment in 22 Community Enterprise Centre projects under the first round of Enterprise Ireland’s €21m Community Enterprise Scheme 2007-2009.
Making the announcement the Minister said:
“Community Enterprise Centres are a truly unique partnership between local communities and Enterprise Ireland and provide essential support for entrepreneurship in urban and rural areas. In April 2007 I announced the provision of €21m for investment under a new Community Enterprise Centre scheme for the period 2007-2009, to be managed by Enterprise Ireland.”
“I am delighted to announce a €6.74m investment in 22 Community Enterprise Centre projects under the first round of the new scheme, just eight months later. I would like to sincerely congratulate the 22 successful applicants who represent community groups from Inishowen to Farranfore”
“Community enterprise centres have a real and measurable impact on the economic and social development of local communities, not least through employment creation. Findings from a survey conducted by Enterprise Ireland report that in 2007, the 105 completed community enterprise centres in Ireland supported almost 1,000 enterprises that in turn employ 4,850 people” the Minister concluded.
Three Kerry projects were successful in this round of grant funding for Community enterprise centres. The new Kerry Enterprise Centres will be located in Farranfore, Kenmare and Kilgarvan. The successful groups are:
-          Farranfore Enterprise Centre Development Group – Capital grant of €450,000 plus Management grant of €50,000.
-          Roughty Valley Pig Co-operative Society, Kilgarvan – Capital grant of €270,000.
-          Kenmare Livestock Mart Co-Op Society, Kenmare – Capital grant of €190,260, plus a Management grant of €50,000 to be shared with the Kilgarvan Centre.

European Space Agency coming to Kerry to encourage companies to get involved in its funding programmes
 
The South West Regional Authority has invited the European Space Agency to present at two evening seminars in Cork (November 20th) and Kerry (November 21st) to raise awareness of the potential for companies, research organisations and the public sector to get involved in range of ESA Programmes including the Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems Programme ARTES. 
 
Companies might not traditionally see themselves working on ESA funded programmes but support is not limited to satellite based businesses or research. It is also for applications such as distance learning, tele-medicine, emergency response systems, marine and maritime issues, security, environmental monitoring, transport logistics, multi-casting, triple-play broadband and telecommunications. The main criterion is that they must make use of telecommunication satellites.
 
The two events are being organised as part of the SWRA’s DRIVE for Growth Project – which is working on creating greater linkages between businesses and public research organisations in Cork and Kerry. For more information log onto www.driveproject.eu.  According to Sinead Crowley Projects Manager, SWRA, ‘There is considerable opportunity for companies, research organisations and the public sector to get involved in ESA funded programmes and the SWRA would like to see the emergence of a cluster of companies and research expertise in the region working in this area.’
 
If you are a company, researcher or working in the public sector and are interested in hearing more then contact Sinead Crowley or Sinead Byrne at the South West Regional Authority email: drive@swra.ie tel: 021 4876877 fax: 021 4876872
 

Caterassist has been voted Jobseekers Choice Agency 2007.

There was stiff competition for the coveted Jobseekers Award and KED would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to Caterassist founder and CEO Jerry O’Sullivan and his excellent team.

Caterassist has gone from strength to strength since its formation in March 2001. Find out more about Caterassist.

The Enterprise Start course is currently taking expressions of interest. Email George Nash to register for this course or ring him on 064 37034.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is for entrepreneurs in Kerry wishing to start-up their own business or who are already in the early start-up stages. It will help self-starters “fill the blanks” in their business skills and help them establish a solid foundation for their enterprises.

Entrepreneurs wishing to pursue public or private enterprise funding in the future will also benefit by participating in Enterprise Start.

Email George Nash to express your interest in this course or call him on 064 37034

Practical Approach

The course focuses on practical business activities rather than taking an academic approach.

Get Ahead Start On The Competition

Participants in the Enterprise Start course will learn the tips and tricks that will give them an edge over the competition. Business professional and tutor Paul Healy will share his vast wealth of business experience and knowledge with participants over the six weeks of the course.

Places Are Limited

Places are limited for this extremely popular Enterprise Start course so contact George Nash now to register your interest or call him on landline 064 37034.

The “Halo” Business Angels Partnership matches private investors with pre-screened investment opportunities in start-up, early stage and developing companies. Since starting in April 2006, the programme has recruited over 120 investors nationally and has also registered over 70 potential investee companies. Five companies have so far received funding under the programme, with a similar number at an advanced stage in agreeing funding.

The South West region has about 20% of these investors and applicant companies indicating a high level of interest and activity. If you would like to register either as an investor or as a company seeking investment contact Peter Bennett, Programme Manager for the South West, email: irelandsw@businessangels.ie or phone 021 7304603. For more information see www.businessangels.ie

The very successful Genesis Enterprise Programme is now recruiting participants for its 2007 start up.
Are you an early stage knowledge based business in the South West of Ireland?

Genesis is a publicly funded 12 month incubation programme for knowledge based start-ups in Cork and Kerry.
What supports are available?

The programme offers the following supports:

• potentially 50% of prior year income (up to a maximum of EURO 38,000)
• up to30 days of business training
• Office space including Business Address, PC, Internet, Email, Desk, Phone etc. (provided by CIT and ITT)
• Experienced mentor for each participant
• Opportunity to work in an environment with other entrepreneurs at very early stages in enterprise development
• Opportunity to access the facilities and capabilities of the Programme partners

Where can I find out more?

For further information see www.gep.ie or contact the Programme Manager, Denise Kennedy at 021 4867535 or email dkennedy@gep.ie

We are now recruiting for the next Enterprise Start training programme at the KTI Centre, Killarney. Visit Programmes for full details or contact George Nash at 064 37034 - email george@kerryentrepreneur.com

See the January issue of Irish Entrepreneur magazine for a major feature on entrepreneurs and enterprise in Kerry. The feature examines how Kerry has grown economically over the past 10 years.

Areas covered include:

• Access and infrastructure
• sectoral growth and networks
• agency supports
• role of education
• tourism
• business incubation
• inance available
• property investment
• women in business
• Kerry’s self made entrepreneurs
• …..profiles of a number of Kerry entrepreneurs

See www.irishentrepreneur.com