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INNOVATING & ADAPTING
In a Challenging Business Environment
Jim Fox,
ACEO, Cavan County Enterprise Board
7th May 2009
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County & City Enterprise Boards
Background
• Established 1992/1993
• Difficult Economic climate
Spiralling unemployment (15+%)
 High Interest Rates
 High Business Failure Rate
High Emigration (not returning)
• Identified Gap in support services
• Need to act urgently
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County & City Enterprise Boards
Structure
• Statutory Bodies – Industrial Development Act, 1995
• Board – 14 Members
• Social Partnership Model
(Elected reps/social partners/community reps)
Staff
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CEO – Vincent Reynolds
ACEO – Jim Fox
Business Advisor – Marcella Rudden
2 admin.
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ROLE/FUNCTIONS
Statutory function is to stimulate economic and
entrepreneurial activity at county level and to develop
local indigenous enterprise potential.
• Lead agency for micro enterprise (≤10 employees)
• Promote local economic development
• Pilot new initiatives to promote entrepreneurship
• Maximise commercially viable new business start ups
• National Agencies – Enterprise Ireland (EI), FAS etc.
• Other locals e.g. LEADER/Partnership=Breffni Integrated
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KEY ACTIVITIES/SERVICES
• Business Information & Advisory Service
First Point of Contact
• Promote Enterprise Awareness/culture –
seminars/awards/schools/Enterprise month/Cavan
Enterprise Network etc.
• Mentor, Counselling & Guidance & Clinics
• Business Training Programmes–from sales to TAS
• Financial Supports for priority business sectors
• Other – various e.g. Tech-check IT audits/e-commerce
Tradeshow supports/sectoral supports e.g. 315 Foods
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CEB - Financial Incentives
Focus on manufacturing and Internationally Tradable
services/capacity for growth and job creation/ business
plan proving commercial viability/no risk of displacement
• Capital Grants – up to a maximum of 50% of cost of
eligible fixed assets, to a limit of €75,000, (circa 30-40%
of sum approved is refundable) ; or
• Employment Grants – up a maximum of €7,500 per
additional full-time job;
• Feasibility Study Grants – up to a maximum of 60%
of costs, to a limit of €6,350.
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Performance in figures (93-08)
• Assisted in creation of 1,200 new jobs across Cavan
• Over 500 projects financially supported
• €7.2m million in financial supports
• c. 300 people attending business training programmes
annually
• 400 students annually now participating in Enterprise
training programmes organised by CCEB
• Leveraging funding for other initiatives/programmes
incl. 60,000 sq.ft. of enterprise space
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Border/All Island Programmes
• Tradelinks
•Cross border Programme (mentoring)
•Stg.£3million (2009/2011)
• Microtrade
•All Island programme (Intertrade Ireland/CEBs/ENI)
• ACUMEN Programme
•Cross border market and sales development
• West Cavan / West Fermanagh Econ. Regeneration
• Breifne
•€2m+
•Geopark
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Cavan County Enterprise Fund
• Incorporated in 1988
• Replicated in six border counties
• support from the International Fund for Ireland
•Focus
 Soft loan finance
Affordable Workspace
 Example: Cootehill (€2.5m investment)
Existing – Killygarry Cavan, Cootehill, Blacklion,
Killeshandra. Plus CITC
- New Partner (2008) Social Finance Foundation
 Approved SLO
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Cavan Innovation & Technology Centre
• CITC - State of the art facility for distance learning/outreach and
corporate training
• Developed by Cavan CEB in conjunction with Cavan County
Enterprise Fund in 2003
• Key provider of leading edge, relevant and custom designed
education and training programmes
• Aimed at managers and key personnel in businesses located in
Cavan and the wider region
RATIONALE
• Lack of access to University and ITs as support to industry
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Cavan Innovation & Technology Centre
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Cavan Innovation & Technology Centre
Strategic Objectives
• Encouraging more effective investment by
employers in training and development to build
necessary work-force skills
• Providing local access to third level (part time)
under grad and post grad programmes
• Develop strategic partnerships with universities e.g.
UCD/UU/UL/IT Sligo/Portobello College
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Cavan Innovation & Technology Centre
Other Programmes
•Skillnets – launched April 08
 €400k
 69 member companies
•HATTCH
 €1million
 Construction workers, Financial Services, Migrant Workers
& Female Entrepreneurs.
•New Courses
•Diversification to meet the needs of the changing economy
Wind Turbine Technology
Renewable Energy Applications
Qualified Financial Advisor
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Current Challenges
• How to inspire confidence?
• Encouraging Entrepreneurship
Acknowledge and Reward Risk (takers)
•Access to capital –
CEB’s/banks/CUs/CCEF/First Step /BES&SC
Dept.Agri/LEADER/bordbia/Intertrade/business
angels/EI incl. CEC schemes
•Skills Development
Smart Economy
Lifelong Learning – retraining
Flexible / adaptable workforce
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Who are the Entrepreneurs?
• Creative/risk takers/positive thinkers/results
oriented /motivated/energetic/confident/
Have vision/leadership qualities / and a
tolerance for risk
WHY NOW/WHY EVER?
•
Control/Independence/Challenge/Sense of
Achievement/Self belief/Seizing an
Opportunity /Money
Next SYOB Training programme – 27th May
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What business or sector?
• Client’s Skill-set and experience
• Growth industries –
e.g. Energy / food / technology
• Innovative products/services/channels
e.g. Niches / avoid “me-too products”
• Export focused if possible
• Business planning not just a plan
• Some Innovation supports –
• CEBs – Feasibility study grants/mentoring
• EI – Innovation vouchers with colleges
• Intertrade Ireland – Fusion programme
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Cavan Enterprise County Award winners
1998
Shalvey’s Poultry products
1999
Airpacks Ltd
2000
Obelisk Communications
2001
Ace Corrugated Ltd
2002
O’Donnell Enterprises
2003
Sheelin Meats Ltd.
2004
Paul Quinn Engineering
2005
Ace Corrugated Ltd
2006
Cavan Country Produce
2007
Crannagh & Co. Inter. Trade & Business
2008
Ballytherm Ltd.
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Thank You
www.enterpriseboards.ie
www.cavanenterprise.ie
‘First Stop Shop for Enterprise’
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