Sowing the seeds for business success

Date Published: 10-Aug-2007

The most successful business people in the world will often admit that the hardest part of setting up their own ventures was getting someone to believe in their business idea; whether it be a wrinkle face cream, a revolutionary electrical device or simply a corner shop.

Securing support from family and friends then was one thing, but overcoming investment problems was an entirely different ball game. Failing to meet high rents and exorbitant business costs has seen endless new ventures fail within a year of setting up and Galway is no different, especially in the city centre where local businesses continue to struggle and compete with the huge multi-nationals.

However, it is not all doom and gloom for budding Richard Bransons here in Galway thanks to an initiative by a local enterprise group, which will see much needed affordable rents as well as onsite support for start-up businesses.

Due to open later this year, the Ballybane Enterprise Centre is expected to bring more business to the Ballybane area, while also encouraging people with viable business ideas to set up their own businesses.

The brainchild of some of the directors of Saint Columba’s Credit Union Limited in Ballybane, their belief in the initiative was so firm that they went as far as to set up the community based company S.C.C.U.L Enterprises Limited in cooperation with the credit union.

The company has charitable status with its motto “Not for Profit, not for Charity, but for Service” in line with its ethos to channel excess Credit Union funds into community projects in the Ballybane area.

So strong was the belief that money belonging to the community should be invested back into the community to provide much needed services that at a meeting back in November 2002 the members of Saint Columba’s Credit Union gave their approval for eight million euro to be invested into building the Ballybane Neighbourhood Village Centre.

Liam Bluett, who has a wealth of business experience and lectures at GMIT, will manage the centre full time where he will share his business expertise with tenants.

He is currently…..