PLATO
The Plato Small Business Development programme was created in Belgium in 1988 and was introduced to Ireland five years later. The programme now operates in ten regions.
The Plato concept is based on the principle of networking. Large companies, known as parent companies, help and support small businesses in their area by releasing two executives on a part time basis and allow participating small companies to have access to their full range of management expertise.
Each region runs its own programmes each of which lasts about two years. About 60 to 100 participating Small companies are broken into groups of ten or twelve companies. They then meet about once a month.
Greg Swift of Plato North Dublin explains that it is the small companies that set the agenda. “They decide what they want to do,” he says. “Then they bring in the experts. The Group is facilitated by two mid- to senior-executives from the parent companies who have followed a six week training course.” Participation costs €760.
Plato North Dublin launched the 3rd two year programme in North Dublin, at the Gresham Hotel on 26th April for more than 100 owner/managers of small companies, facilitated by 16 executives from large companies. This will be the 22nd programme to launch in Ireland since 1994. The Programme was launched by Brody Sweeney, CEO, O’Brien’s Sandwich Bars.
For more information, visit: www.plato.ie
SFA
The Small Firms Association represents over 7000 small and medium-sized businesses throughout the country. It acts as a sector grouping for small businesses within IBEC and provides advice on a wide range of topics including employee relations, health & safety and management training. It publishes a bi-monthly magazine, Running Your Business, as well as reports on specific topics. It also organises events around the country.
During September 2002, the SFA will be running a series of courses: A guide to managing IT. Check the SFA Website for dates:
CCI
The Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) lays claim to being the country’s largest business organisation with 11,000 member companies, participating through 55 affiliated local chambers. In addition to providing networking opportunities to members, it uses its purchasing power to help small companies get a better deal from service providers. It also helps them achieve cost savings through affinity deals with organisations like Iocommerce.
The CCI is also a trusted third party in e-business. Chambercert is a public Certification Authority that allows small companies to engage in secure and authenticated e-commerce transactions. Using Baltimore’s Uni-Cert technology it provides secure e-mail; secure VPN; Web Authentication; Business-to-business marketplaces; and ‘Wisekey’ where ChamberCert acts as root certification authority for organisations that do not want to establish their own public key infrastructure.
Dublin
The Dublin Chamber of Commerce is making the European Computer Driving Licence Teach Yourself CD ROM available to small companies.
The Gold kit, which contains a Workbook, the CD ROM, Skill Card and several ECDL test vouchers) costs €317.40 while the corporate licence, courseware and CD ROM comes in at €1,270.00 plus €63.50 for each additional pack.</p>
The ECDL CD ROM allows managers to train themselves to a European standard in IT skills. CD ROM contents include: Using the computer and managing files, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, email and the web. Upon completion of the CD ROM vouchers can be used to sit the ECDL exam.
All enquiries (within Ireland) to 1850 295 999 or, daphne@youareunlimited.com
The Dublin Chamber of Commerce is also organising a series of workshops as part of the Dublin Regional E-business Development Programmme for small companies. Unfortunately, these workshops are now full but there are plans to run them again in the summer.
Youghal
The Youghal Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has developed a track record for running IT-related training. In the last quarter of 2001 it ran courses covering basic and intermediate computing skills (MS Word/Excel/Publisher) and Internet for Business.
The Chamber successfully repeated the course in the first quarter of this year adding Marketing Your Website, Internet and E-mail to the list. These courses will be repeated during the year. For information contact Youghal Chamber of Tourism & Commerce: youghal@eircom.net
Northern Ireland
Invest Northern Ireland is a new agency formed through the merger of the Industrial Development Board, LEDU, The Small Business Agency, the Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU), the Business Support Division of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Tourism Accommodation Support Functions of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB).
Invest supports small business with a range of financial and advisory schemes and acts as the focal point in Northern Ireland for the UK Online For Business programme and any scheme offered in Britain would be available in Northern Ireland through the agency.
The agency has recently opened a new E-Solutions centre in Lisburn. Firms in the region can use the centre to access a full range of technologies such as broadband communications, wireless networking and video conferencing. The centre provides technical advice and demonstrations on e-security and other related topics.
Other services provided by Invest Northern Ireland include Fast Forward Finance-pre-venture capital financial support for smaller companies; and Fast Track for Innovation, an accelerated process which aims to give a quick response to companies with new ideas in the ICT sector. Companies can also buy in up to 50 days of subsidised consultancy where a consultant can look at its business processes and advise on converting to e-business.
The agency also has a team of six trained ICT advisors who visit companies on their own premises and give them impartial advice. They look at a company’s computer network and encourage it to develop a tailored strategy.
For companies involved in tourism, Invest Northern Ireland provides a Web marketing service to get them involved in marketing themselves on the Internet.
The agency also provides financial incentives to encourage business to take up broadband satellite technology for Internet access in areas where ADSL is not available.
For further information contact Roisin Goodwin on (+44) 28 926230005 or Roisin.Goodwin@investni.com. The website is www.investni.com
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