Creativity Thirst Programme

Are you considering setting up your own business in the Creative Industries? Or looking to make a litle extra income with your creative skills? Well this project is for you.

This short and accessible programme will enable learners to develop a full business plan and a portfolio, including IT presentations and promotional material of their craft/skills. Participants will also receive guidance from a mentor who will prompt and guide them through this experience. And all within a creative learning environment. This project has been developed by the WEA in response to specific needs identified in the Creative Industries and follows on from other highly successful schemes which have taken place over the last couple of years.

Who's It For
Anyone who holds qualifications in their particular skills area at Level 2 or above (i.e. if you have achieved higher than a GCSE Grade D or a CCEA Creative Crafts Level 2. Graduates also welcome to apply) and wants to explore income generation or self-employment in the Creative Industries. Applicants must attend a short interview in early September 2010 before beginning the programme.

Where Will The Training Take Place?
Univeristy of Ulster
Jordanstown Campus
Shore Road
Newtownabbey
BT37 0QB.

What Will I Be Doing?
Learners must complete both courses - one course is a qualification from CCEA council for the Curriculum Examinations and the other is accredited with the Open college Network Northern Ireland (OCNNI).

Irresistable Business Level 2:
Tuesday 21st September, 6.45pm to 9.45pm for 13 weeks.

This is the ideal entry point for those wishing to get involved in business start-up and will allow you to explore the implications of self-employment and starting/running your own business.

Professional Practice in the Creative Industries Level 1:
Saturdays, 2nd, 16th October and 13th November, 10.00am - 5.00pm.

There are different ways of accessing self-employemnt opportunities in the Creative Industries and this course will look at a range of approaches which could be used. It will also help you develop your professional profile which could result in gaining work in the Creative Industries.

You will also consider if being in business is the right thing to do and how you might have to develop your skills and life accordingly.

All learning is offered free thanks to the support of the Creative Industries Innovation fund.

For further details please contact Carole Kane on 028-90329718 or email: carole.kane@wea-ni.com Carole Kane, Worker's Educational Association, 3 Fitzwilliam Street, Belfast, BT9 6AW.

Atlanta Trade Development Programme

Atlanta Trade Development Programme

Can your business learn anything from a top business city and transportation hub?

Atlanta Georgia has the USA’s fourth largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies. Major national and international companies are headquartered in Atlanta or its nearby suburbs. No single industry truly dominates Atlanta’s economy. Service industries employ the largest number of workers, but trade and manufacturing are also important elements. Having such diversity, Atlanta has been slower to suffer a downturn and quicker to recover from any temporary setback than many other major American cities. Atlanta still boasts opportunities for Northern Ireland business.

If you are a growth orientated business Castlereagh Borough Council wants to help you identify profitable new market opportunities and strategic alliances from Atlanta. Castlereagh Borough Council’s Economic Development Services, in partnership with Lisburn City Council are developing a Trade Development Programme to Atlanta.

Participants on the Trade Development Programme will benefit from:

• One-to-one consultancy to establish specific export objectives for the trade programme;
• Provision of specific research, information, advice and skills development to equip you to achieve your trade programme goals;
• Identification of specific business opportunities for export & sourcing in Atlanta.
• A tailored individual company itinerary for the Atlanta visit with direct support to ensure that you achieve the most from your business meetings.
• Increased local export activity and local and international exposure.
• Follow up assistance to pursue opportunities identified during the market visit.
• Networking opportunities with other Castlereagh and Lisburn CityCouncil businesses and Atlanta and Lisburn Civic Delegations.

Participation on the Atlanta Trade Development Programme is subsidised by Castlereagh Borough Council. The programme is open to all businesses within Castlereagh.
If you would like further information please contact Colin McCabrey on T: 028 9049 5616

Interested companies are invited to express their interest by letter or e-mail to:

Colin McCabrey
Economic Development Manager
Castlereagh Borough Council
Civic and Administrative Offices
Bradford Court
Upper Galwally
County Antrim
BT8 6RB

OR

Email: colinmccabrey@castlereagh.gov.uk

Minister extends 100% funding for Management and Leadership Development

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, has announced that 100% funding will continue for small and medium sized business and social economy enterprises for approved management and leadership development training.

Minister said, "Management and Leadership skills are crucial to increasing the productivity of individual companies and making them competitive in the world marketplace. These skills bring tangible benefits to business including higher productivity, better returns on capital and more robust growth. Yet, in many cases, a highly skilled workforce is not enough on its own. These skills must be appropriately utilised by managers to ensure that businesses can make the most of their core asset – their people." "I am therefore delighted to announce that 100% funding of the Department's approved leadership and management programmes will continue at present. This measure has had a direct, positive impact on Northern Ireland businesses over the last year – encouraging them to invest in the management and leadership of their workforces. I believe that this is a key way in which government can impact on increasing the productivity of Northern Ireland businesses. "

To find out how to apply for Leadership and Management training for you and your company please contact Pauline Donnelly at: pauline.donnelly@delni.gov.uk

Management Tip Of The Day

3 Things to Know About New Ventures

All new ventures are fragile. Even if revenues are growing, chances are your company hasn't yet hit breakeven. Be sure you know these three things to manage through this precarious time:

1.How many days you have to live. Businesses fail because they run out of cash. Knowing exactly how many months or days you have to live can help you better manage costs and your funding strategy.

2.Why you are doing this. Success requires hard work and constant attention. If you don't know exactly why you should make the effort, neither will your funders.

3.The top two critical issues. Be precise about which two issues deserve the highest priority. These may not be the most urgent, but are the ones that matter most to your venture's success.

Read the full article at - http://bit.ly/aTwZza