Breakfast Workshop On Exporting

Monday 1st March (8.15AM - 11.00AM)

Castlereagh Borough Council, Civic & Administrative Offices, Bradford Court, Upper Galwally.

Why not come along have some breakfast and learn how developing an effective export market can provide essential additional growth for your business.

Come along to our export breakfast workshop and learn form our panel of experts as they discuss the merits of exporting. Topics for discussion will range from how to start exporting, applying for the prestigious Queens Award for Export to practical advice from the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Invest NI. Programme mix - 2-3 hour morning workshop.

The workshop will also be an ideal time to catch up with elected members of the Council who are keen to find out more about how businesses are coping in the current economic climate and what assistance they can offer.
What’s the cost? – The programme is funded by Castlereagh Borough Council and the European Competitiveness Fund, so all your business has to do is register so we know how many are coming along for breakfast.

So what will the workshop format be? –

• Introduction and overview of current reasons to export and the range of opportunities that local businesses can go after - Lara Goodall from Full Circle Consulting. Lara has extensive experience of dealing with SME's and has managed a number of programmes on behalf of local Councils including the Exporting to the Accession States, Exporting to New Europe and the Benelux Programmes, and the Small Firms Development Programme.

• Why are business awards important when winning export sales – Julie Taylor from Integrity NI. Over the last few years Julie has worked with local SMe's completing applications for several business awards culminating with the successful application for Armstrong Medical who were awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade in June 2009.

• How the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce can help your business export - Oonagh O'Reilly (Business Development Director). The Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce has vast experience in assisting local business export including their Export Documentation service.

• How Invest NI can help you achieve your goals for exporting, including information on the new Export Skills and Knowledge Workshops.

• Final overview of current exporting opportunities – Lara Goodall from Full Circle Consulting.

• Q&A session and the chance to have informal discussions with elected members of Castlereagh Borough Council.

How do I apply? – If you’re interested in joining us contact:-

Roger Warnock, Investment & Enterprise Development Officer on 028-9049 4500 or by email growbusiness@castlereagh.gov.uk  . Places are limited so please let us know soon!