Dungarvan Enterprise Centre Tenant Wins Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber Business Awards

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre Tenant Wins Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber FBD Award

Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber held a successful Business Awards night, sponsored by FBD, which took place at Lismore Castle on Friday 2nd November 2012.  Guests were treated to a memorable night at the Castle.

There was an unprecedented number of entries and RIKON who were judging the event had an extremely onerous task to select winners.  RIKON are Ireland's Leading Service Innovation Centre located in Waterford Institute of Technology.  Since inception, RIKON have been assisting companies in becoming more innovative in their approach to doing business.

  

Each category was whittled down to three shortlisted candidates - Dungarvan Enterprise Centre and TEFL Express were shortlisted in the E-Business & Technology category of eleven entrants. Congratulations to Rosie Mansfield of TEFL Express Ltd who won the E-Business & Technology Award sponsored by TQS Integration.  Winners in each category received a framed certificate and a commemorative prize.

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre were also proud to sponsor the Start up Business Award and would like to extend their congratulations to the winners of the award - Once Upon a child.

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre provides business services, office space, conference facilities, training & mentoring to small and growing businesses.  DEC has worked with over two hundred start-up and growing businesses since opening in January 2011.

Dungarvan and West Waterford FBD Business Awards

We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted in the Dungarvan & West Waterford FBD Business Awards in the E-business and Technology category. We have been offering training and individual coaching in technology use and social media since we opened in 2011. We also now support a number of businesses on our network through provision of high speed broadband and VOIP telephony services. We are delighted to have this work recognised. We would also like to wish our tenant Rosie Plummer of TEFL Express the best of luck in the awards - we have both been shortlisted in the same category

Want to get fit for Work?

Opportunities for the Unemployed with Springboard Programmes at Dungarvan Enterprise Centre in association with WIT.

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre is proud to be in partnership with WIT to offer two FREE practical programmes for the unemployed  in Dungarvan under the Springboard scheme this Autumn.
Both Programmes will help you to develop essential skills in demand in the current jobs market.

1. Certificate in Small Business Finance
This certificate covers the essential skills needed to run the Finance of a small business.
Learn how to:
- prepare and analyse accounts
- make sound financial decisions
- Raise finance and cost save
- Understand tax and legal requirements
- Use computerised payroll & accounting systems

Why not make yourself more employable this Autumn?
To register your interest, contact 058 23598 quoting Ref Number WDSB10
Full course details here: http://bit.ly/Ud5q9D

2. Certificate in E-marketing & Promotion*
E-marketing and promotion are growth areas, which have become essential to businesses.  There are numerous opportunities within this field as best practice evolves and expands on an ongoing basis.
Learn how to:
- Conduct online marketing
- Manage Social Media
- Drive SEO
- Understand the principles of marketing
- Deliver effective integrated marketing

To register your interest, contact 058 23598 quoting Ref Number WDSB11

** Please note both courses will only run in Dungarvan if numbers are sufficient

What to ask a franchisor?

You have picked a franchise that interests you now you should put the franchisor in the "hot seat".  Getting the most out of your meetings with a franchisor is vital if you want to obtain the key information that will be the deciding factors on whether you choose a brand.

Among the information you will need to unearth is how long the franchisor has been posting profits, when did the company start franchising, how many franchise owners it has, and the speed at which the franchise network is growing.

Getting Started
You will want to know what you will receive for your investment.  Your initial training is likely to be included, but will it include staff training?  If you are starting out solo, you may employ staff as your business expands.  If so, will the franchisor require all staff to be trained by head office and, if this is the case, how much of this cost will fall on your business?

Setting boundaries
Another important consideration when investing in a franchise is the exclusivity of your franchise - is it a single unit or is it a territory within set boundaries.

Value for Money
In addition to your initial investment you will be expected to pay management service fees to the franchisor to provide you with support.  For instance, some franchisor's operate a sales department dedicated to generating initial business for their franchise owners from launch day. Alternatively, the franchisor may take total control of the sales process, providing you with a constant flow of business and leaving you to concentrate on providing the service.

Counting the Cost
This will involve quizzing the franchisor about how much working capital you will need, how long it will take for your business to break even and the growth level current franchise owners are achieving.  Ideally you should request that your accountant or bank manager check these figures out, but receiving a green light from these people is no assurance of success.  They are merely confirming the figures look fine on paper, not their precise knowledge of all the risk factors involved with your selected franchise opportunity.

Looking Ahead
After a few meetings with the franchisor you will have a good idea of your role in operating the franchise - whether you will be required to be hands-on in delivering the service or taking on a more managerial role.
You must ask yourself whether what you hear corresponds with your own goals, and then query whether you will be able to move into the latter category if you see yourself expanding the business at a later date.
 
Before making your final decision, make sure you clearly understand about the franchise you have chosen and about all the elements that make it a success.  This is why it is important to make your questions really matter to make your foray into franchising a success.

Using Social Media to Boost SEO

Came across this great article on using social media to improve your SEO today and just had to share! Were you aware that Google had updated their search algorithm? This will particularly impact on those of you using  manufactured backlinks.

The top three tips are:

1. Use social media to generate content ideas - if it's working, leverage it!
2. Encourage backlink building via your social media activity - makes sense really
3. Build a social media following to reduce reliance on search engines - this is not a new idea but the new algorithm increases its importance PLUS there is a trend towards people using social media as their default pages .......

Read the full article here http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/3-ways-to-use-social-media-to-improve-your-search-rankings/

Upcoming Events

We have a couple of exciting events coming up here at Dungarvan Enterprise Centre.

Information on both events below:

Our Country, Your Opportunity: Make €1500 in your lunch hour

Date:    Wed 12th September

Venue:  Dungarvan Enterprise Centre

Time:    1.00 - 2.00pm

Cost:     Free

Booking is essential

The first event is in association with Dungarvan Chamber and will see Connect Ireland visit Dungarvan to tell local businesses how you can tap into serious financial rewards simply by knowing someone working abroad.
We all have a relative or friend working in another country, Connect Ireland is an innovative way to create new jobs in Ireland by harnessing the power of your global connections.  Their mission is to attract companies that are expanding internationally so they locate in Ireland and create new jobs in the Irish economy.  This great new scheme means you can be rewarded simply for who you know.  The whole process is very simple, you can just let Connect Ireland know of any of your contacts who can make an introduction in an expanding company overseas.  They will work with that company to help it locate to Ireland.  If it does locate here and jobs are created, you will receive a significant financial reward.
Orla Nolan will be visiting Dungarvan to make you aware of how you can tap into this unique opportunity - join us on the 12th September to see what the scheme is all about.
To book call 058 45054 or email info@dungarvanchamber.ie


Free Start-up Clinic with Tax Assist Accountants

Date:    Tues 18th September
Venue:  Dungarvan Enterprise Centre
Time:    12.30 - 2.00pm
Cost:     Free
Booking is essential

The second event is a free information session for those who are starting a business, answering the questions everyone needs to know, like what do the banks want and how do you pay tax when you're no longer on PAYE.
Lots of people are starting businesses at the moment but all too many don't know what their rights and entitlements are.  Unfortunately, there is nobody standing on street corners handing out information on the basic questions EVERY business start up should know.  This seminar will answer all your questions about tax, accounting, etc in simple English.  

1.  Deciding on the correct legal structure
2.  Operating as a sole trader, partnership or limited company, what are the options?
3.  Income Tax Registration, what you need to know
4.  VAT Registration, what you need to know
5.  What are the allowable business expenses
6.  What records do I need to keep
7.  Keeping on top of book keeping 

If you, or someone you know, is looking to start a business you should attend this free event, it could save you a lot of time and money in the long run. 
To book call 058 23598 or email info@dungarvanec.com

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre Welcomes Oak Training

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre is delighted to welcome Kay Fitzgerald of Oak Training to the centre. This new tenant has an exciting online business selling training material to companies all over the world.

Oak Training is the supplier of choice of innovative, practical and competitively priced downloadable training content. With over 50 organizational, management and employee modules available they have successfully removed the traditional barriers associated with sourcing training content online.

All of their training content has been designed and tested by senior executives operating within high performance organizations who have successfully positioned their organizations for the future by maximizing internal capacity.

Designed for trainers, coaches and consultants looking to increase the range of products and services they can offer their clients. Oak Training content is also ideal for managers and employees looking to extend their knowledge of organizational, management and employee titles.


For more information go to http://www.oaktraining.com/