Businessowners learntogrow theircompanies

SIXTEEN County Wicklow business owners graduated from an intensive training programme recently at a ceremony held at the Glenview Hotel.

The Local Enterprise Office Wicklow (LEO Wicklow) organises the ‘Management Development Programme (MDP)’ each year, which gives experienced business owners the chance to rethink their business strategies, examine their pricing and profitability and discover how to grow their businesses.

The programme, which is led by trainer and facilitator Blaise Brosnan, is accredited at level seven on the national framework of qualifications by IT Carlow.

Presenting the certificates to the graduates were Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Bryan Doyle, the Head of Lifelong Learning at IT Carlow, Denis O’Brien, and the Head of Enterprise at LEO Wicklow, Sheelagh Daly.

Mr Doyle paid tribute to Blaise Brosnan and the team at LEO Wicklow for continuing to provide such a high level business skills training programme, which is having huge impact on the turnover, profitability and job creation in the SMEs that take part.

Participants on the programme echoed these sentiments and expressed their gratitude to all involved, and described their regular meetings since the course concluded as a huge support to them and their businesses.

Participants of the current MDP Programme, which will conclude in March, were also present at the ceremony.

This is the 21st year that LEO Wicklow has provided the MDP to local business owners and over 400 businesses have taken part over the years. The programme is open to small, local businesses (less than ten employees), that are established (approximately more than two years in business) and wish to grow/consolidate. Anyone interested in expressing an interest in taking part in the MDP commencing in September 2017, should email enterprise@leo.wicklowcoco.ie.

For information on other training courses and seminars to be offered by LEO Wicklow in 2017 visit www. localenterprise.ie/wicklow. as I have built up a huge diversity of experience, shooting styles, deadlines and dealing with people while working on programmes like Ear to the Ground and About the House, A Little Bit Country, People’s Parliament for Channel 4 and Panorama for BBC. It is great to be able to bring this experience to the corporate sector.’

Prior to setting up Mount Venus Productions, Karen directed the ESB Best Sports Broadcast award for her documentary on Joey Dunlop, The Last Lap for BBC Northern Ireland. Her team includes her husband, lighting camera man John Fay and various freelancers as projects arise.