Future job creators get leg-up from west’s entrepreneurs

The recovery of the economy in West is being turbo-charged by collaboration between new entrepreneurs with fresh ideas and some of the country’s most successful entrepreneurs.

The Entrepreneur Exchange is a new mentoring and networking opportunity for ambitious businesses ready to grow their companies.

Business leaders from all over the country gave their time to mentor and advise ambitious entrepreneurs at a unique event which took place in Sligo recently.

Ian Brannigan, CEO of the Western Development Commission said “The WDC is delighted to collaborate on this event for the second year running. Entrepreneurship is fundamental to our economic development in the Western Region and this event enables us to foster and promote entrepreneurship in a very meaningful and impactful way”

Some of the business leaders participating included John O’Shaughnessy, Chairman & Co Founder Neuravi , Liam Griffin, Managing Director of the Griffin Hotel Group;  David Walsh, Group CEO and co-founder Netwatch and John Purdy, co-founder and CEO of Ergo (who recently won the EY Industry Entrepreneur of the Year award).

Paul Keyes, CEO of Sligo Chamber added: we are delighted to lead out on this event for the second year. It was a massive success with great speakers, great ideas and great interaction. It’s so humbling to see such successful, established business owners giving their knowledge and expertise to the next generation which in turn will create employment and lead to more rapid economic recovery,” said.

Wayne Allen, CEO Embo Medical Galway said “I am delighted to participate in this hugely valuable initiative, the support and advice from experienced business leaders is invaluable to companies like mine”

Participants also received presentations on various topics including: security for your business by David Walsh of Netwatch; applying the rules of sport to your business by Liam Griffin of the Griffin Hotel Group and online domain names by Tommy Higgins of Access Media.

Speaking about the importance of cash flow was George Mullan, whose company SIS works with some of the world’s biggest football clubs including Manchester United and Real Madrid.“If you don’t understand what cash is coming in, then you are in real trouble. ‘’

The Entrepreneur Exchange, gives new entrepreneurs the invaluable experience of real exposure to trailblazers in their field. All of the business leaders who took part volunteered their time and expertise in order to ‘give back’ to small and medium-sized businesses who are following in their footsteps.

The event, which was held in the Radisson Hotel in Sligo, was run by Sligo Chamber, The Western Development Commission (WDC) and The Enterprise Europe Network in association with IT Sligo and Westbic to stimulate entrepreneurship and business.