Aughrim company secures €50,000 in research funds Start your own business course

A SOUTH Wicklow business has been awarded funding to the tune of €50,000 under an EU scientific research programme.

The funding was announced this week and GDG, Aughrim was selected as one of nine SMEs to receive the grant which is awarded under the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument.

Each of the companies receives the lump-sum payment to cover drafting a business plan plus three days of business coaching and free business acceleration services.

GDG will put the funding towards the development of a Decision Support Tool to Manage Earthworks along Road and Rail Networks

Companies can apply for two distinct phases under the SME Instrument, depending on the maturity of their innovation.

Under Phase 1 of the SME Instrument each project will receive a lump-sum of €50,000 to carry out a feasibility study.

Under Phase 2, each project will receive from €0.5 to €2.5 million to finance innovation activities such as demonstration, testing, piloting and scaling up.

Applicants can request higher amounts if duly justified in their application. A COURSE on how to start your own business will take place at the Brockagh Community Centre in Laragh during the month of May.

The course has been arranged by Local Enterprise Office Wicklow and starts on May 3 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.. It costs €80 to take part.

The objective of the Start Your Own Business Programme is to assist participants in assessing the viability of business ideas and in understanding the essential elements required to start up and run their own businesses. This is an evening course that runs over 10 weeks.

Topics that will be covered include self assessment, preparing a business plan, researching the market, sources of funding, sales, legal issues, marketing for small business, finance, basic bookkeeping and using IT and social media in your business.

The trainer will be from The Entrepreneurs Academy. Visit www.localenterprise.ie/Wicklow to book your place.