17 members attended last nights Business Network Meeting.

Ann Marie Durkin from Shasta gave an inspirational presentation about her business, how she came up with the ideas from her products and getting them on the shelves.

Ann Marie spoke about the assistance she got from Longford County Enterprise Board in the early days and benefiting from research with Athlone Institute of Technology. She also told attendees to look at getting an Innovation Voucher from Enterprise Ireland.

Louise Ward from Roscommon County Enterprise Board updated members about the proposed changes to Enterprise Boards.

The next meeting will take place on Thursday April 5th at 7pm. More details to follow.

Ann Marie Durkin from Shasta

The March Network meeting will take place in The Abbey Hotel, Roscommon on Thursday March 1st at 7pm.

Agenda:

7.00pm: Member Introduction

7.05pm: Keynote Presentation – Ann Marie Durkin from Shasta – See below

7.35pm: The Furture of the Business Network

7.55pm: Update regarding prospoed restructure of Enterprise Boards

8.00pm: Networking

Shasta is an innovative company based at the Midlands Innovation and Research Centre at Athlone Institute of Technology. We specialize in baby care products and are leading the way in portable baby care sterilization technologies.

Shasta developed and brought to market Steri Soother the world’s first pre-sterilized ready-to-use baby soother

The main product innovation Steri –Ova was developed in collaboration with one of the leading names in the baby care market. Discussions have been held with a number of specialist retailers and firm expressions of interest secured from Mothercare (UK) plc., Petit Terraillon (France), and Tommee Tippee (Jackal International) UK

Steri Ova is the world’s first portable baby bottle steriliser. It is patented in Ireland and has PCT patent pending in 140 countries. The Steri-Ova sterilizes sixteen times faster than steam counter top units and is an impressive fourteen times smaller making it highly portable.

Shasta has this become an Enterprise Ireland Client at the end of 2011 and successfully have raised funds from Enterprise Ireland as a HPSU client and from private investors.

There has been some discussion recently about the time of Network meetings.

Therefore, we would be grateful if you could choose 1 of the options below. If you can not see the survey below please click here.

Please vote when you receive this email.

The meeting will take place in The Abbey Hotel, Roscommon on Thursday March 1st.

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:

Would you like to find out about cross-border opportunities? Why not come along to the InterTradeIreland Business Seminar on 9th November 2010 and find out how one local company has grown their business. Click now to register.

Would you like to access new markets for your business? Build contacts, explore opportunities and get tips on how to win business across the island and increase your sales?

Discover how you can avail of funding up to the value of €1200 / £1000 for Trade Accelerator Vouchers which can be redeemed to access expert advice on taxation, sales & marketing, employment law, currency and regulation when doing business on an all-island basis.

Join us for a free business information event which will be held on Tuesday 9th November 2010 at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone., 8am-11am.

This event, specifically aimed at local companies from Athlone and the surrounding areas, will provide you with an opportunity to get 1-2-1 cross-border advice for your business from experts on tax, finance, legal, sales and marketing, explore funding opportunities and hear how a local company is growing their business as a result of exploiting cross-border opportunities.

Our team from InterTradeIreland will also be on hand to offer practical support and advice for your business.

At the event there will be an opportunity for you to have individual one to one meetings with the experts. If you would like to book a one to one meeting, please specify which expert you would like to meet when registering.

Interested?
Register to attend by emailing Denise Marron or online at www.intertradeireland.com before Tuesday 2nd November 2010.

You can also contact us on 048 30834100.

For more click here

Business Start Up Course

Start Your Own Business Event 09.11.10

The programme emerged within the context of the You are Equal Project and out of the expressed needs of prisoners in Castlerea Prison. The programme, funded by the Department of Social & family Afffairs, aims to give the participants, prisoners in Castlerea prison, knowledge in regard to self employment and empower them to choose this option or in turn realise that it is not a possibility for them.

The entrepreneurial thrust and ethos underpinning the training motivates the participants to be entrepreneurial with their lives whether it ultimately involves self employment or employment. A further aim is to explore what knowledge and skills are required for employment and also identifying possible employment opportunities. It is envisaged that employers will input into the training in regard to the necessary competences and attitudes required in order to succeed in the workplace. The key stakeholders and project promoters are the Irish Prison Service, the Department of Social & Family Affairs, Roscommon County Enterprise Board, Athlone Institute of Technology, the Linkage Programme, the Probation Service and Roscommon Integrated Development Company.

Services provided:

Modules being offered to the participants are;

1. Entrepreneurship and Innovation
2. Business planning and Finance
3. Personal Development and Communications

One to one mentoring is also provided to enable the participants complete the 9 week training course and reach the personal development and business planning targets. The course is accredited by Athlone Institute for Technology.

Contact details:

Mr. Noel Connolly

Enterprise Co-ordinator

Roscommon Integrated Development Co.

Castle Street,

Roscommon

Tel: 0906627424

Fax: 0906627478

Mobile: 0876388590

Email: noel@ridc.ie

Cahal Mahon - Accounting Matters

18 business people attended the March network meeting.

Our new agenda item entitled ‘Member Presentations – learn from your peers’ featured:

1. Deirdre O’Murchadha – RosWin Co-ordinator, Life/Business Coach
2. Cahal Mahon – Accounting Matters
3. Mike Leech – Tand Group

Mike Leech - Tand Group

Each business owner presented their business, 1 improvement they have introduced and 1 challenge they are facing where other members suggesting ideas and possible solutions.

There was very positive feedback about this part of the agenda and it will be a regular item.

Peter Wrafter updated attendees with respect to action items the network are addressing.

There was also a very positive and interactive discussion regarding the network and it’s potential to support and promote business and businesses in Roscommon.

Next meeting is on Thursday April 1st – More details to follow.

12 business people attended the February Network Meeting.

Peter Wrafter updated members on the new financial supports available from Roscommon County Enterprise Board.

Eammon Gleeson presented information about County Council Rates and members discussed options on how the network might address rate reductions. Eammon also suggested looking at valoff.ie.

The Next meeting will take place on March 4th – more information to follow.

Roscommon Business Network Meetings in association with Roscommon County Enterprise Board take place on the first Thursday of every month at 6pm.

All Roscommon based businesses are welcome.

The next meeting will take place on February 4th at 6pm in Gleesons Townhouse, Market Square, Roscommon.

Agenda:

6.00pm – Welcome Introduction

6.05pm – Member Introduction

6.10pm – Keynote Presentation – Council Rates – Eamonn Gleeson  followed by open discussion

6.40pm – County Enterprise Board  – New Financial Instruments – Peter Wrafter

6.50pm – Knowledge Sharing/Member Presentations

7.00pm – Volume Discount Buying

Roscommon on Facebook

A Facebook page has been set up with a view to promoting business in County Roscommon. When the page gets over 25 Fans I can change it to facebook.com/Roscommon. One of the objectives is to encourage people from the county to shop in the county through online word-of-mouth e.g. the page “I’m from Ireland But More Importantly I’m From Roscommon” has already 3,716 Fans.