Regional business clubs set to promote growth

A series of regional small business clubs is to be established by Invest Northern Ireland with the aim of aiding companies grow faster by focusing on ways to improve profits and productivity.

The clubs are being co-ordinated by Invest NI’s Business Improvement Services (BIS) with support from the agency’s offices in Belfast, Derry, Ballymena, Newry and Omagh.

The first has already been launched in Omagh, for companies in the west of the province, while other clubs have been formed in Derry and Newry, with further launches planned for companies in the Belfast and Ballymena areas.

Outlining the role of the new Regional Small Business Club, Peter McCarron, BIS Executive, said: “Our aim is to help companies explore how they can prosper by applying proven best practice business improvement techniques and benchmarking their implementation and results."

It is planned that the clubs will meet regularly and the participating companies will decide on the business issues to be addressed. Invest NI's involvement will enable them to draw practical expertise on how to improve their business, while the experience will also provide a framework for companies to learn from each other’s knowledge and experience.

“We want the companies to run the clubs and to work with us in developing activities that will produce tangible benefits for them as they seek to grow their business," Mr McCarron added.

"The club members will be able to draw information and knowledge from across Invest NI and also from other public bodies and private sector organisations with which we are linked."

(GMcG)