|
|
Free advice for Inishowen
businesses
10.11.08
SMALL businesses in
Inishowen are being offered free membership of the
Donegal Design Directorate to help them through the
downturn.
The Design Directorate supports businesses in a
range of areas and entitles them access to
subsidised training programmes, one-to-one
mentoring, networking events, seminars and
heavily-subsidised business trips.
In the first phase of the programme, which ran from
2006 to early 2008, member companies had to pay an
annual subscription fee. Over 80 local companies
joined the Directorate at the time. |
 |
“One of our goals is to
help Inishowen businesses work their way through the
downturn and position themselves for better times by
using product design, packaging and promotion to
boost sales, protect pricing and fight off
competitors," said network manager Donna McFadden.
“We decided that we could have an even greater
impact by removing |
the requirement for a
membership fee, particularly given the current tough
economic climate for local small businesses.”
Janine Strong of Inishowen Home Baking, Malin,
advocates joining up.
“As a new business it enables me to access
subsidised training locally that would normally only
be available in Dublin or London at a very high
cost,” she said. “Directorate membership comes from
all business sectors, not just design based
companies, so the social and networking elements are
almost as important, allowing us to link up with
other small businesses across the county to share
experiences." To find out more, you can contact
Donna McFadden on 074 9160735 or email her at
donnamcfadden@donegalenterprise.ie . |
|
