SOME of
Ireland’s best known entrepreneurs will be lending their expertise to Northside
businesses later this month for Fingal Enterprise Week.
Former
supermarket mogul turned gym king Ben Dunne, Dragon’s Den presenter Bobby Kerr
and 11890 founder Nicola Byrne will all be on hand during what promises to be
an action-packed programme of events starting on September 26.
In one of the
expected highlights of the week, four small local businesses will be chosen to
pitch their product to the celebrity entrepreneurs before a live audience at
the Europa Academy in Swords.
The event will
be hosted by Richard Curran from RTÃ?’s Dragon Den series. One of the four firms
will be picked to go through to the next stage of the National Enterprise
Awards in November.
Overall, about
800 local businesses are expected to take part in this year’s Fingal Enterprise
Week, which focuses on developing business networks and providing mentoring
clinics.
Other features
will include a pop-up bank, social media seminars, an export seminar, a food
forum and talks on how to improve company branding.
Speaking at the
programme launch in Swords, CEO of the Fingal County Enterprise Board, Oisin
Geoghegan, said small business owners and anyone looking to set up a new
enterprise really need access to information, advice and support.
“During Fingal
Enterprise Week, business owners and new start-ups can meet industry experts
and attend free mentoring clinics to help them learn how to develop their
enterprise,
? said Mr Geoghegan.
“All the events
are designed to help visitors identify new business opportunities and markets,
to encourage them to make new business contacts through networking and to match
them with experienced mentors.
?
Fingal
Enterprise Week is supported by Fingal County Council, Bank of Ireland and
Newstalk. Most events are free of charge.