SMEs advice
Kildare Business Start-up Competition
Closing date for the Newbridge Chamber Business Start-up Competition is 19th
October 2014. Go to www.readysteadygo.ie for details and to register. It’s for
businesses who have either commenced trading since 1 January 2013 or who are
in the process of setting up and wish to be located in County Kildare.
There is a fabulous first prize bursary of €50,000 which includes professional
services, internships, cash, and various support services from Newbridge Chamber
and AIB Bank. It really is the full package. Professional services will be delivered
from top experts in Kildare such as O’Reilly Recruitment & HR, Reidy Stafford
Solicitors, Newbridge Technology Solutions, Effects Based Communications &
Recruitment, O’KellySutton Chartered Accountants & Business Consultants,
Kildare Local Enterprise Office, Newbridge Chamber plus an AIB start-up package.
The winner of this Entrepreneurial Competition will earn two places on a dedicated
and customised Executive Management Training programme with one of Europe’s
most successful Real Estate and Hotel Groups, the Von Der Heyden Group.
A pan European company with multiple locations in Spain, Germany and Poland,
the programme will be delivered from its Headquarters in Poland. The prize will
include return flights and an all-inclusive two week stay for two people at its IBB
Hotels in Poznan and Warsaw. The winners will receive intensive mentoring and
training from the Group’s senior management team over 10 days on Marketing,
Finance, HR, Operations, IT / e-commerce, Project Management and Commercial
Business Planning.
O’KellySutton Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors who are one of the
sponsoring professionals delivered a Master Class in Business Planning on
2nd October 2014 to the participants who had entered at that stage. It dealt with
all aspects of business planning including Business Models, Resources, Marketing,
Cash, Idea Generation, and Funding with lots of practical case studies.
Johnny Murtagh champion Jockey and soon to be champion trainer gave a truly
insightful opening presentation on what it takes to be successful. He had the
audience in the palm of his hand and had everyone fully motivated on leaving.
Johnny being the true gent that he is obliged even though he was under pressure
to get a flight to Australia that night.
The final of the Business Start-up Competition will be held on 5th November 2014
at the Newbridge Enterprise Expo at the Keadeen Hotel with 3 finalists presenting.
Ian Kehoe of the Sunday Business Post will do MC for the day with Ivan Yates
giving the key note address with lots of other interesting speakers including
Barbara Murphy who will take us through her experience of starting a business
and how the first two years went.
What banks look for from the self employed trader
Article by Pat Sutton in Sundays Business Post 17 April 2014
In spite of what some commentators might lead you to believe it is our experience that banks are trying to lend where possible. It up to the applicant to present their best case scenario, answer any questions the bank may have and give them confidence that you are a good investment
Developing a business plan
Article by Pat Sutton in Sundays Business Post 17 April 2014
I’ve often been asked by business owners what’s the most important aspect of a business plan. My answer sometimes surprises when I say it’s the journey you take in preparing the plan and not the plan itself.
Business Start-Up Guide
Article by Pat Sutton in Sundays Business Post 17 April 2014
There are lots of opportunities for start-up businesses in a recovering economy but with over 40,000 new start-ups expected to be registered this year there are serious challenges ahead if you are to stand out from the crowd and succeed
How good are SME’S at using Investment?
An Article by Patrick Sutton, partner of O’KellySutton in the Sunday Business Post
So your company has just received that big investment you’ve been chasing after for ages, now what happens? You will have prepared the business plan and sales pitch as to how great the idea is. In theory it’s all figured out now and it’s a just a matter of spending the money and reaping the rewards.
