Paving The Road To Sales Growth

As the credit crunch continues to bite, the battle to grow sales is an ever more important one for businesses to win.

However, small businesses are being given a competitive advantage, thanks to Belfast City Council's latest development initiative.

The Sales Growth Programme aims to help local businesses maximise their sales potential, with a comprehensive range of support, including workshops, mentoring and pre-arranged meetings with prospective customers.

The programme targets small businesses and social enterprises across Belfast with the desire to increase their sales base through the introduction of new products or services, or entering into new markets, or by supporting them to take advantage of existing market opportunities.

Councillor Michael Browne, Chairman of the council`s Development Committee, said: "In today's economic climate, the importance of an effective sales strategy cannot be undervalued. Through this programme, we can help local businesses to develop the necessary sales skills required to identity and exploit sales opportunities that still exist in the market."

This is the second year Belfast City Council has supported this programme. Commenting on its attributes, previous participant, Stephen Rooney, from NXO Northern Ireland, said: "I found the sales growth programme very useful. It helped generate new business that I otherwise wouldn`t have been able to develop."

The Sales Growth programme will be delivered over a six month period and is set to begin next month. Deadline for applications is 12 noon on Friday 23 January.

For more information, or to obtain an application form, contact Ruth Rea on 9050 0526 or email: rearuth@belfastcity.gov.uk

This programme is provided by Belfast City Council, in conjunction with the European Regional Development Fund. Further information on business development programmes available from Belfast City Council can be found at: www.belfastcity.gov.uk/businessprogrammes

(JM/KMcA)