The February Business Network Meeting will take place on Thursday 2nd at 6.30pm in The Abbey Hotel, Roscommon.

There will be a presentation from RSM Farrell Grant Sparks on “Employment & Investment Incentive Scheme”.

There will also be a short discussion after the presentation in relation to the topics to be covered at network meetings for the remainder of the year.

Tea and sandwiches will be served.

23 Members attended the Christmas Network Event in Roscommon Leisure Zone. A great night was had by all with bowling and a raffle. Michael and Aisling provided hot food and other refreshments and were excellent hosts.

The next meeting will take place on February 2nd with details to follow.

19 members attended the November Network Meeting.

The following 3 members delivered excellent presentations about their businesses, lessons learned and challenges they are facing with feedback from members.

Michelle Fallon – Michelle Made This

Teresa Scally – Energy Consultant

Padraic Cuddy – Class Grass Ireland

The next meeting will take place on December 1st and will be the Network Christmas Party. More details to follow.

The November Network meeting will take place on Thursday 3rd at 6.30pm in Hannon’s Hotel, Athlone Road, Roscommon.

We are inviting 3 members to present on the night. This is an opportunity for you to introduce your business, practice your sales pitch and get feedback and advice from other members.

The format is as follows:

2 Minutes – Your business

2 Minutes – An improvement you have introduced which you feel would benefit other members

2 Minutes – A challenge you are facing

4 Minutes – Feedback/Suggestions from members

There will also be a raffle on the night for €100 advertising voucher with the Roscommon Herald.

Agenda:

6.30 – Member Introductions

6.40 – Member Presentations

Paraic Cuddy – Class Grass Ireland

Michelle Fallon – Michelle Made This

Teresa Scally – Energy Consultant

7.20 – Open Forum Discussion

7.30 – Networking

There will also be a table at the back of the room for you to display your business cards and/or brochures.

15 members attended the October Business Network Meeting

James Martin from TeamLife Training & Coaching gave a motivating presentation in addition to facilitating a team building exercise with attendees.

Louise from Roscommon County Enterprise Board updated members on a fantastic upcoming networking event in Galway called MeetWest

MeetWest 2011 will be the largest business networking event in the West in 2011.

THE OBJECTIVE…of the event is to bring together 400 companies based in these 3 counties over one and a half days to facilitate the development of greater business between these companies and further business opportunities for them either locally, regionally or internationally.

Tá sé mar aidhm ag MeetWest tacú le gnóthaí líonraí tacaíochta a fhorbairt tríd réimse de cheardlanna oibre, comhdháil agus cruinnithe a eagrú. Is deis é seo do chomhlachtaí san Iarthar, mór agus beag, casadh le lucht gnó eile, páirtnéirí agus custaiméirí nua a aimsiú agus eolas a fháil faoi conas a bheith rathúil ina ngnó uatha sin a bhfuil sé déanta acu cheana.

PARTNERS…Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Roscommon County Council, Mayo County Council, Galway County and City Enterprise Board, Roscommon County Enterprise Board, Mayo County Enterprise Board, Enterprise Ireland and Udaras na Gaeltachta

Deirdre Ó Murchadha from RosWIN brought along information about a new tourism site for Roscommon called WarmWest.ie.

The October Network meeting will take place on Thursday October 6th at 6.30pm in Hannon’s Hotel, Athlone Road, Roscommon.

Agenda:

6.30 – Member Introductions

6.40 – Keynote Presentation – Business Growth by James Martin.

7.20 – Open Forum Discussion

7.30 – Networking

About James

James is a strategy consultant for personal and business growth. He is passionate about supporting new startups and business owners to build successful, profitable businesses. James supports clients mainly around mindset, strategy and innovation with a specific focus on harnessing close business relationships and technology to accelerate business prosperity. His business training and coaching company, TeamLife Training, is based in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.

Roscommon’s own version of Dragon’s Den is coming to town, led by renowned RTE Dragon, Bobby Kerr. Taking place at the end of September, participants with new business ideas will have the opportunity to present their proposals to a panel of experts.

This initiative is part of Roscommon LEADER Partnership’s Enterprise Creation and Development Measure, aimed at encouraging and supporting rural enterprise in the county. Eligible projects will benefit from constructive feedback from the expert panel, along with follow-up advice and support with business planning and preparing funding applications to Roscommon LEADER Partnership. Up to €150,000 of non-refundable grant aid may be available for eligible projects. In exceptional circumstances this may be raised to €200,000 subject to Department approval. Additionally, successful proposals may have the opportunity to access private investment, particularly through Business Angel Partnership, which will also be represented on the expert panel.

All eligible participants, including those with new business ideas as well as those considering innovative expansion of their existing enterprises, will have the opportunity to present their business idea to a panel of experts, led by renowned Dragon Bobby Kerr. Bobby has a particular affinity with Co. Roscommon through his investment in the infamous ‘illuminated handbag’ project as depicted on RTE’s Dragons Den. Along with the direct feedback and assistance available, projects will also be signposted to other possible sources of support, such as Roscommon Innovation House, Innovation Vouchers through Enterprise Ireland and the WIN Atlantic programme to explore international opportunities that may exist. This initiative builds on other recent initiatives aimed at encouraging and assisting new enterprises in the county, including Roscommon Enterprise and Innovation week and Roscommon Innovation House, developed in association with Roscommon County Enterprise Board.

The Dragon’s Den event is co-ordinated by WESTBIC on behalf of Roscommon LEADER Partnership. Potential participants should contact James Donlon at WESTBIC on 090 6625196, email jdonlon@westbic.ie for further information. Places are limited so participants are advised to contact WESTBIC as soon as possible.

Application form for Dragons’ Den

14 network members attended the September Meeting.

Topics discussed included the advertising in the Roscommon People in addition to ideas/topics for meetings.

Topics included:

• Motivation
• Cutting costs
• Bank Loan Application
• County Enterprise Board Grants
• Roscommon Integrated Development Company Funding
• Presentation by a successful entrepreneur (and lessons learned from some failures)
• Social Outings
• PR with local press
• Attending other business events

It was also suggested that a table for business cards and brochures be set up at the back of the table for each meeting.

If you have any further suggestions, please drop an email to info@roscommonbusinessnetwork.com or leave a comment below.

The next meeting will take place on Thursday October 6th

The September Network meeting will take place this Thursday evening at 6.30pm in Hannon’s Hotel, Athlone Road, Roscommon.

Agenda:

1. Member Introductions

2. Brainstorming ideas for the network for next 12 months

3. Press Release quotes from members placing an ad in Roscommon People. Paul Healy from the Roscommon People will attend the meeting.

Network Member Cahal Mahon of Accounting Matters contacted Paul Healy in the Roscommon People regarding a group discount advertising special for Network Members – see sample image above.

There are 18 ad spaces available on a first come first served basis and the cost is €50 + VAT.

There will also be a page of editorial spread including photographs about the network including quotes from members who place an ad. These quotes will be an additional opportunity to promote your business which Paul will ask for.

This is a great opportunity to promote both the network and member companies at a very reasonable price.

To avail of this opportunity please email info@roscommonbusinessnetwork.com with the following details.

Business Name:

Tag Line: e.g. for all your …. needs

Address:

Telephone:

Website: