Dungarvan Enterprise Centre Celebrates First Birthday

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre first opened its doors on 5th December 2011. In the past twelve months the centre has become a key player in the business landscape, offering a comprehensive range of services to the local business community. The centre is almost at full occupancy, with just one office space remaining free. 

The aim of Dungarvan Enterprise Centre is to stimulate and encourage enterprise in West Waterford, while acting as a support to the local business community. The centre achieves this through letting affordable office space, meeting room hire, training, mentoring and event management. The centre offers a number of free services to start-up and growing businesses including flyer display, promotion through our newsletter and social media sites, general business advice and facilitation of networking and seminars. The centre also offers affordable practical business training and has provided training in areas as diverse as social media, cloud computing, self-effectiveness, e-tendering and marketing over the last year. To date the centre has provided training to over 100 local businesses.

The office spaces at the centre are of a very high spec and are offered at affordable rates, starting at €180 per month including management fee and VAT. The centre also offers subsidised high speed broadband with speeds of up to 120mg and VOIP telephony, with built-in IT support. “We are delighted to have eight businesses on board to date, this equates to 18 people employed within the centre,” says Mags Durand O’Connor, centre manager, “We have also provided room hire to a variety of clients including FAS, LEADER and Waterford WEN, numbering over 200 people having accessed our facilities over the past year. We have been fortunate to work closely with Waterford County Enterprise Board, Dungarvan Chamber and Waterford County Council in our endeavours and we will continue to do so in our mission to find practical means of supporting business in the local community.”

The next big project for the centre is a Coder Dojo in association with Waterford County Enterprise Board, who are driving the initiative through their Student Enterprise Programme. This free programme which helps children to develop essential IT skills will be available from January. The centre has already received a generous donation of two laptops for the programme from TQS Integration and would ask any other businesses who might be able to donate old laptops to get in touch with the centre as it is the aim of the programme to be inclusive.

Three Canadian Students visit Dungarvan Enterprise Centre

Three students visited Dungarvan Enterprise Centre from Canada on Monday 26th November.  These students are part of the Tradewinds Student Exchange programme.  A mandatory module these students have to take as part of their semester in WIT is Enterprise and Regional development.

Tradewinds is an International Exchange program that provides students with an opportunity to acquire knowledge and competencies that support their future work in regional economic development, entrepreneurship and other contemporary subjects.  While studying abroad, students will be earning course credits at their exchange school that will easily transfer back to their diploma or degree program at their home school.

The Higher Education Institutions involved in Tradewinds are:

Fanshawe College, Ontario, Canada

University of Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Memorial University, Newfoundland, Canada

Brittany School of Management, Brest, France

University of Glamorgan, Wales

Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland

Enterprise and regional development are mandatory subjects for students on this programme.  As part of them getting a better appreciation of Ireland's enterprise policies and how enterprise copes in the current economic climate in Ireland it was decided to take them to visit a number of enterprises in the South East to talk to the owner/managers of these organisations.  Dungarvan Enterprise Centre was delighted to have a tenant chosen in this International Programme. Students visited Rosie Plummer Mansfield of TEFL to ask her about her enterprise, Ireland's enterprise policies, and how her enterprise copes in the current economic climate, etc

Speaking after the visit Rosie Plummer Mansfield said " I was delighted by the enthusiasm and interest from the visiting WIT students, it was a pleasure to introduce them to TEFL Express.  It's key to look at how companies can create success stories in recessionary times and for students to have access to real companies, not just text book examples"

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre to Host First Main Street Mini-Market as part of Christmas Celebrations.

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre to Host First Main Street Mini-Market as part of Christmas Celebrations.

From the bustling markets of Cologne, Germany to the festive flair of the Danish markets in Copenhagen and from the Belgian delights of Brussels to the Christmas cheer at the Czech markets in Prague, Christmas markets are a much-loved European tradition.  At Dungarvan Enterprise Centre, we are delighted to work with Waterford WEN to host a Christmas mini-market this festive season. 

The benefits of local retailers and manufacturers availing of a stand at the market include:-

- Promotion by WEN and DEC
- Facilitates Direct Sales
- Perfect opportunity to promote and sell Christmas goods
  and ideas
- Low-cost opportunity to make Christmas sales
- Network with other businesses
- Cross-sell products with complementary businesses
- Provide demonstrations of products or services to a
  captive audience          

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre in association with Waterford Women's Enterprise Network will host the first Main Street Mini-Market on the 12th December 2012 from 4-7PM.  Avail of this unique opportunity to deal directly with product manufacturers and business owners in a small scale market feel.  This is the perfect opportunity to get some great gift ideas and grab some Christmas bargains whilst getting into the festive spirit.

Stands available from €20 - call 058 23598 or email mags.durand@gmail.com for further details.

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.