News
Major Business Live tour comes to Cookstown
20 February 12
Stories of local, cross-border and international business success will be shared with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and aspiring entrepreneurs from the Mid-Ulster and South Tyrone areas in March as part of a major free event being organised by Ulster Bank in association with Small Business Can. All local business people are invited to attend Business Live at the Burnavon Arts Centre, Cookstown on March 5th which will feature a panel of successful local business people, chaired by a co-founder of the influential business website www.smallbusinesscan.com
‘Irish Export Cooperative has done it’
14 February 12
Irish Export Cooperative has done it slashing costs of international deliveries for SME’s. From this week, the Irish Export Cooperative will have achieved discounts for their members on international delivery. These reductions amount to a highly discounted rate. For the first time, small crafts people, food producers and micro enterprises can export at an affordable cost. The implications are profound for small retailers and small medium enterprise (SME) here in Ireland.
€85m Business Angel Funds available to businesses in 2012
6 February 12
The 11th annual InterTradeIreland Venture Capital Conference will help companies unlock investment opportunities. Business Angel Funds of up to €85m are currently available to start-up companies across the island, Margaret Hearty, Director of Business Services and Programmes, InterTradeIreland has estimated.
Entrepreneurial businesses spearhead Northern Irish economic recovery
2 February 12
Entrepreneurship is critical for fast track sustainable economic growth in Northern Ireland. Government and local business leaders must also look towards building stronger exports in order to see the development of a more sustainable private sector in the region. These were the views expressed by Ernst & Young in advance of its launch of the 2012 Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme, in Belfast.
High achieving Ulster companies celebrated in leading awards scheme
31 January 12
The high achievement of entrepreneurial local companies has been celebrated at a prestigious awards event in Belfast. Eight Ulster firms, including new businesses and successful exporters, have been presented with prizes in the provincial stage of the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards, run in association with Invest Northern Ireland and InterTradeIreland. Seven firms from across Northern Ireland and one from Donegal were on stage at Riddel Hall in Stranmillis (Queen’s University Belfast’s Executive Education Centre of which Ulster Bank is a member of the Founders Club) to collect their awards in the Ulster final of the all-island scheme.
Almost 400 companies enter Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards
25 January 12
Businesses have come out in force to highlight their good work in this year’s Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards. Almost 400 entries have been received for the prestigious scheme, with strong entry levels in categories such as ‘International Business’; ‘Best Business Start-Up’; and ‘Innovation and Emerging Technology’. Judging has now taken place, with the Ulster awards final happening on January 26 in Riddel Hall, the new Post Graduate and Executive Education Centre at Queen’s University Belfast. Ulster Bank is one of the founding members of the centre.
All-Island Awards Reveal Innovative Finalists
23 January 12
The Irish Times and InterTradeIreland have unveiled the 18 companies that have made the final of the 2012 Innovation Awards. The finalist companies will go on to compete for the ‘Innovation of the Year’ title at the Irish Times InterTradeIreland Innovation Awards 2012 which will take place in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin on 28th February.
NI company is finalist in Irish Times InterTradeIreland Innovation Awards
23 January 12
Omagh-based Waste Systems Ltd is leading the way in innovation as the local manufacturing company has been announced as a finalist of the Irish Times InterTradeIreland Innovation Awards 2012. Waste Systems Ltd, which designs, manufactures and supplies turnkey systems and standalone machinery for the waste separation and recycling industries, has been shortlisted in the Green-tech Innovation category and will compete with two other companies across the island of Ireland for the prestigious category title.
One in three Businesses indicate lack of finance for investment is constraining
20 December 11
InterTradeIreland’s latest Business Monitor survey for Q3 indicates that a lack of finance for investment is constraining growth for one third of businesses in Ireland. The monitor, which surveys 1,000 companies across the island on a quarterly basis, highlighted that businesses have seen a decline in sales and cashflow, with there being a perceived lack of access to finance from the banking system. However, despite this lack of cash, only one in 10 businesses approached their banks for funding.
ALR Innovations and Zinc Software crowned winners at Seedcorn Competition
2 December 11
ALR Innovations and Zinc Software were named the Best High Growth Company and Best Emerging Company respectively at InterTradeIreland’s annual All-island Seedcorn Business Competition. The event, which took place at the Burlington in Dublin on Wednesday night, is the largest business competition on the island. As the Best High Growth Company on the island, ALR Innovations has won the overall prize of €100,000 while Zinc Software will take home a cash prize of €50,000 for its success as the Best Emerging Company.