The sixth international Partner Meeting of the RaiSE European Project was held recently in Westport, Co. Mayo. Hosted by Irish Partner WestBIC, the event saw RaiSE Project Partners and Stakeholders from across Europe attend meetings and workshops on 29th and 30th January 2019. Introducing the meeting, WestBIC Area Manager Seamus McCormack welcomed the group to Co. Mayo and noted the importance of the Social Enterprise sector in Ireland delivering vital services in care of the Elderly, childcare, cultural and community activities and environmental services to name just a few.

The first day’s event were held in the Leeson Enterprise Centre, Westport. The first workshop of the day focused on the policy landscape for social enterprises in the partner regions. Each participating region gave a update on policy developments and identified relevant issues and gaps in support. This was followed by presentation by William Parnell, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Rural and Community Development, giving an overview of policy developments in Ireland, and Caitlin Conneely of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly giving an update on the progress of the 2014-2020 Operational Programme and planning for the new operational programme post 2020.

Next on the agenda was a Seminar on financing social enterprises in Ireland with presentations by Alan Curtis, Pobal and Tracey Hannon, Clann Credo. After lunch, Dermot Langan, Tourism and Enterprise Officer with Mayo Co. Council, addressed the group and outlined the background and development of the Leeson Enterprise Centre. This was followed by a brainstorming workshop on the development of regional action plans to monitor the implementation of RaiSE activities over the final two years of the project. In the evening the group had the opportunity to visit the beautifully renovated Custom House Studio Art Centre at the Quays, Westport and also had a very interesting and entertaining tour of the historic Irish stately home at Westport House.

The second day of the Partner Meeting involved a series of study visits to a number of successful social enterprises in the Claremorris region. This included a visit to Cúram Family Centre, Claremorris Town Hall and Claremorris Community Radio where a number of visiting guests gave a radio interview with presenter Anthony McNicholas. The group then visited Brickens Care Home where they partook in a traditional Irish lunch. In the afternoon visits were made to Clár ICH Mayfield Housing Project and Growing Locally Project.
For further information on the RaiSE project see the website: https://www.interregeurope.eu/raise/ or contact Seamus McCormack WestBIC ei.ci1752078248btsew1752078248@kcam1752078248roccm1752078248s1752078248

 

Our First Level Control Section hosted a Northern Periphery & Artic Programme Information Seminar on Thursday 10^th January 2019. The target audience was Irish partners who were approved for funding in the 5^th Call, and was also attended by partners with existing projects from previous calls. The event was introduced by Brendan Mooney, National Contact point followed by presentations on both NPA Eligibility Rules and Claim Preparation & Submission, this proved to be a successful event with  good interaction between the FLC section and partners.

 

Download the Presentations 

SConway Eligibility Rules NPA 2019

CB Claim Preparation and Supporting Documents – Jan 2019

Small business getting just desserts

The 2018 Global Entrepreneurship Development Index saw Ireland achieve a ranking of 8th among the 137 countries that were assessed. Ireland’s position has risen each year since 2014. Becoming evident is that there is no better place for a career in business.

This week Heather Humphreys TD and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation spoke at an event recognizing over 45,000 employers, enterprises and entrepreneurs in the northern and western part of Ireland.

Celebrating the region winning ‘European Entrepreneurial Region for 2018’ the Minister welcomed the publication of ‘Ambassadorial Stories’ from across the region. The publication captures incredible stories of successful small companies contributing to Ireland climbing international innovation indices.

The award comes at a crucial time for the region as it looks for ways to insulate itself from the unpredictable impacts of Brexit and to offer an alternative economic focal point to Dublin and the east coast.

Welcoming the prestigious award the Minister was keen to recognise the role played by employers and particularly SME’s across the country.

“Ambassadors for the EER Award only demonstrate a window into our ecosystem. Their stories are replicated across industry, sectors and small towns. It is imperative that we sustain the emphasis on ensuring that all regions are developing to their potential. We not only need to keep a focus on job creation and retention, we also need to ensure that the jobs created are of good quality and sustainable over the longer term. We must ready ourselves for change”.

Brendan Mooney, EU Affairs for the Northern and Western Regional Assembly was resolute in stating that the ‘economic importance of small business cannot be overstated. Nowhere are small enterprises more important than in our regional market. Small firms make up over 98% of the enterprise base of the region’.

Commenting, Mr. Marc Kiwitt of the Committee of the Regions, the EU’s assembly of Regional and Local Representatives, said: “The European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) is a project that identifies and rewards EU regions and cities which show an outstanding and innovative entrepreneurial policy strategy, irrespective of their size, wealth and competences. The Northern and Western Region must be congratulated on the successful achievement for 2018.”

Mr. Mooney said this spirit of entrepreneurship was driven by the network of collaborative Local Enterprise Offices supporting over 45,000 businesses. The concept of ‘entrepreneurship as a career’ has also come from smart programmes such as Young Entrepreneur of the Year and New Frontiers, Enterprise Ireland’s national entrepreneur development programme for innovative, early-stage startups.

The North & West has formally endorsed the first Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy which plots the future of the region up to 2040

The elected members of the Northern & Western Regional Assembly (NWRA), have formally adopted a draft of the region’s first-ever Spatial and Economic Strategy. The strategy sets out an ambitious vision up to 2040 by taking advantage of the high quality of life, knowledge and adaptability in areas such as energy, digitilisation, environment, innovation and entrepreneurship.

With a projected growth of over 180,000 people bringing the entire population of the Northern & Western Region to over one million, a clear objective of the plan is strengthening often weak infrastructure in the region’s urban areas so that investment, jobs and population growth can flourish.

The strategy seeks to identify regionally specific investments that can act as drivers for this population growth and jobs dividend. The region needs to supply the right housing, infrastructure, jobs and services where and when our communities need it. Galway city is the primary urban driver with other large towns such as Sligo, Athlone and Letterkenny designated as regional growth centres.

Galway, regarded as the ‘Medtech capital of Ireland’, is set to grow in population by over 50% over the next 20 years, with increased pressures on infrastructure, housing and other key services needed for larger numbers of people. This will need to be planned for.

The NWRA believes that its Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy is unique – it’s the first of its kind, if adopted after a 10-week public consultation, would provide a detailed roadmap within the National Planning Framework, specific to the region’s needs and strengths.

The Spatial and Economic Strategy also sets out a vibrant future for connected rural places and county towns. Notwithstanding the challenges around the rollout of rural broadband, a ‘smart region’ can help rural communities become much more agile through digitilisation, innovation and through key investments in our towns and villages.

The plan was discussed at a meeting of the NWRA’s 25 members last Friday, with the draft strategy being formally adopted.

Commenting, Director of the NWRA David Minton said: “We must be even better at the things we do well to create new growth. We are perfectly positioned to lead development if we connect our strengths as a low carbon, green and natural economy.”

“By 2026, the collaboration on a focused growth agenda has the potential, I believe, to generate significant economic growth and increased employment across the region. But both public and private stakeholders in our regions must cooperate to achieve the vision of an urban led, rurally-connected place with high growth and quality of life.”

“This exciting strategy gives a voice to what the Northern and Western region needs. It includes strong support for the Atlantic Economic Corridor and interestingly encourages further support for the connectivity of our border communities with Northern Ireland and the Dublin-Belfast corridor .”

 

The strategy is on public display for ten weeks and can be found by clicking here.

Participants from Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Hungary and Ireland took part in an interregional learning event in County Leitrim recently. The group were part of the TRINNO project which is funded by Interreg Europe and looks at ways of improving supports for businesses by sharing best practice examples. 

This event gave an important opportunity to share good examples of supports available in our region with our European colleagues.

One of the examples showcased was The Hive Technology Enterprise Centre in Carrick-on-Shannon, which presents office spaces for technology businesses (start-ups and established businesses). The second good practice example showcased was the Food Hub, a food production and education facility based in Drumshanbo. Since it’s establishment in 2004, the Food hub has emerged as Ireland’s premier artisan multi-tenant food production enterprise centre.

More Information on the Trinno Project Here