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InterTradeIreland Northern Ireland “Business Ambassadors” Recognised at Parliament Buildings
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| Mark Hutchinson, SJC Hutchinson Engineering, Alastair Ross MLA, Paul Haslam, The Web Bureau and Margaret Hearty, ITI |
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Thirty-five companies from across Northern Ireland have been recognised as InterTradeIreland Business Ambassadors at a special ceremony in Parliament Buildings hosted by Alastair Ross MLA, Assembly Private Secretary for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
The Ambassadors were nominated by InterTradeIreland as companies that had successfully embraced innovation; developed new cross-border markets or secured venture capital with InterTradeIreland’s support. Representing the full spectrum of industries, the 35 companies between them have generated at least £15m in additional business value to the economy so far.
The 35 Business Ambassador Companies
| Business Ambassador | Location | | Anaeko | South Belfast | | Engaged Web | South Belfast | | Annies Traditional Food | Garvagh, Coleraine | | Arbarr Electronics | Limavady | | SJC Hutchinson Engineering | Coleraine | | Canyon Europe | Newtownabbey | | Catagen | South Belfast | | Williams Industrial Systems | Newtownabbey | | Texthelp Ltd | Antrim | | Fast Engineering | Antrim | | Cranmore Consulting | Holywood | | Cirdan Imaging | Lisburn | | CDE Global | Cookstown | | Classic Marble (Showers) Ltd | Dungannon | | Clearlift Material Handling | Antrim | | Glens of Antrim Potatoes | Cushendall | | Greentown Environmental | Enniskillen | | Tyrone Fabrication | Ballygawley | | Ionology | East Belfast | | The Web Bureau | East Belfast | | JW Kane Precision Engineering | Portadown | | Kelly Brothers | Warrenpoint | | Lucid Interactive | L'Derry | | P&E Doherty (Roe) Ltd | L'Derry | | McErlain's Bakery | Magherafelt | | Media Lightbox | Newry | | O'Hare & McGovern Ltd | Newry | | Moorings Mediquip | Ballymena | | Quad-X | Ballymena | | Nitronica | Ballynahinch | | See.Sense. | Newtownards | | Opus Retail Solutions | North Belfast | | Play Services Ireland | Lisburn | | HannaIP | South Belfast | | Quinn's The Printers | West Belfast |
Ministerial Endorsement
Speaking at the event, Alastair Ross MLA said: "It has been the drive, ambition and innovative nature of our entrepreneurs and businesses that has been integral in getting the local economy on the road to recovery. The trading environment over the last few years has not been easy so I am particularly heartened by the success stories of these firms and their tenacity to push through this rough period into the positive business environment that is currently emerging.
"To continue to grow our economy, we must help more businesses to be export-led and internationally competitive. I am encouraged by the contribution made by both InterTradeIreland and the companies here today in striving to achieve this goal."
The Web Bureau, Belfast
Companies that were commended at the event included The Web Bureau, an award winning web design and digital marketing company based in Belfast, which has successfully delivered solutions to public and private organisations across the island. The firm successfully used sales salary support from InterTradeIreland’s Acumen programme to employ a full time sales person to target new clients in the southern market. As a result the company has been able to boost cross-border sales by approximately 14% and grow its team significantly.
InterTradeIreland, proud of new Ambassadors
Also speaking at the event, Margaret Hearty, Director of programmes and business services at InterTradeIreland said: “We have supported businesses from a diverse range of sectors right across Northern Ireland, in every county and constituency and we are extremely proud of their achievements. These firms represent many of Northern Ireland’s most resilient and ambitious SMEs that are a testament of what can be achieved through enterprise and innovation. It is important that we recognise their success which we hope in turn will inspire other businesses to seek the support needed to develop and take their business to the next level.
To find out more about how InterTradeIreland can help your business grow visit www.intertradeireland.com
Business Ambassadors - Ireland Event
InterTradeIreland will be recognising a further 65 companies from Ireland as Business Ambassadors in October at an event to be held in the Mansion House, Dublin and hosted by Minister Richard Bruton. So watch this space!
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With major changes in public sector tendering afoot- SMEs must prepare and InterTradeIreland can help
In a nutshell, in Ireland, all government related purchasing will be centralised through the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). In Northern Ireland, the Central Procurement Directorate (CPD), the lead body responsible for NI public sector purchasing will adopt a 'common goods and services' approach, increasingly moving towards greater collaboration.
But what does that mean? In simple terms it means that larger value contracts will be advertised and there will be new category structures. These new category structures are accessible to all scales of suppliers, however different approaches may be required to stay in the market, such as forming consortia to make joint bids for contracts.
So how can InterTradeIreland help.....
Small businesses have been well positioned to date to win the majority of published tenders and have benefitted strongly from a competitive public procurement market. However reforms afoot will present new challenges for SMEs. InterTradeIreland offers a range of supports, information and advice in relation to public sector tendering.
Our key tips for SMEs in adapting to new Public Procurement market
1. Register on tender websites Many SMEs are still not registered on eTenders (www.etenders.gov.ie) and eSourcing NI (https://e-sourcingni.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml) These tender websites are a free service providing a virtual storefront to public sector buyers. Another important point is ensure that the information you enter is relevant and kept up to date, so that buyers will find your company when they search your products and services online.
2. Form Consortia to bid for larger contracts
With the increased aggregation in demand across public sector procurement, contracts will become larger in size. Consider partnering with other companies to bid for these larger tenders. Choose potential partners wisely; even consider partnering with a competitor to tender together or alternatively mergers should be considered.
3. Do your research on the Procurement Market
Unlike before, increasingly procurement in Northern Ireland and Ireland will now be categorised into types of procurement spend. In the South specifically (for example professional services, facilities management, marketing, print and stationery), each of which will be managed by a Portfolio Manager, supported by a Category Council. Understanding how the new market works and who the public buyers are in your category is essential.
Our enhanced Tender Supports for these changes
To support businesses across the island, InterTradeIreland has launched an enhanced range of tender supports to give SMEs the knowledge and practical skills to tender successfully for public sector contracts in this changing environment.
InterTradeIreland will host a number of Go-2-Tender workshops to facilitate SMEs looking to adapt to the forthcoming changes. Find out more. InterTradeIreland is also actively advising SMEs to consider forming bid consortia, to ensure they are well positioned to continue to bid for and win public sector business to the same extent they are doing to date. InterTradeIreland will be holding free Consortia Seminars over the coming months to support SMEs in this particular area. - Tuesday 30th September - The Radisson Blu, Belfast
- Tuesday 4th November – Maldron Hotel, Dublin Airport
Register here.
InterTradeIreland's extensive suite of tendering supports also includes:
Further information on InterTradeIreland’s public sector tendering supports can be found at www.intertradeireland.com/public-procurement/
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Considering cross-border business for the first time? Get £1000/€1200 towards practical cross-border business advice
One of the biggest challenges when thinking about doing business in a new market is getting the information, help and advice to get you started. InterTradeIreland provides a range of supports to help you do just that.
InterTradeIreland is the recognised authority on cross-border trading and our experts are available to advise, guide and assist on all business matters.
Trade Accelerator Voucher Scheme
Through InterTradeIreland's Trade Accelerator Scheme, we can offer your business financial support worth up to £1000/€1200 towards professional advice in areas such as Market Research, finance, taxation & VAT issues, employment law and HR issues, tendering, currency issues and regulatory issues. It can also be used for market advice to help you scope potential cross-border business opportunities.
The benefits of TAV
- Simple application process
- Free and impartial expertise to help your business trade across the island
- Improved knowledge of the practical considerations when trading across the border (financial, tax, legal, currency, regulation etc)
- Better understanding of the cross-border market opportunity
- Solutions to overcome barriers to doing cross-border business
Interested?
For more information, to find out if your business is elgible and to apply, visit our website at www.intertradeireland.com/trade_accelerator_vouchers/ or contact the InterTradeIreland Trade Team on 028 3083 4145 (048 from Ireland).
Simple Guide to Cross Border Business
You can also download our Simple Guide to Cross Border Business which is a practical guide that provides you with answers to the most common financial and legal questions to doing cross-border business. For example, buying and selling goods and services to and from Ireland and Northern Ireland , tax implications, debt collection, exploring joint ventures and much more.....
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Is collaborative funding the way to jumpstart innovation and entrepreneurship?
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| Professor Erik Vermuelen |
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With entrepreneurship and innovation on the decline, governments are increasingly turning to companies, universities as well as knowledge and research institutions to jumpstart the start-up community.
As part of InterTradeIreland's All-Island Innovation Programme for 2014, Professor Erik Vermuelen from Tilburg University in Holland, will discuss if these collaborations are helping to drive innovation and business creation, during a series of lectures and master classes in Queens University Belfast and UCC Cork this September.
Event Details:
The innovation lectures and master classes will take place in Queen’s University Belfast on 15th and 16th September and University College Cork on 17th and 18th September and are free to attend.
Why attend?
- Get free, practical advice on how to innovate to succeed in the current economic climate;
- Hear from international experts in the field of innovation who will share their experience and insights and answer any queries you may have;
- Network with other like minded individuals
Register now
About the Speaker - Professor Erik Vermuelen
Erik Vermeulen is Professor of Business and Financial Law at Tilburg University and Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC). He is also Senior Counsel Corporate of Philips (a technology company) in the Netherlands. Much of his current research focuses on the life cycle of a company - from idea to fully mature company, the sources of capital available at each stage of a company’s development, and the importance of collaborations and partnerships with other firms and institutions to ensure innovation, growth and value creation.
Other Upcoming Events
InterTradeIreland All-Island Innovation Conference, UCD, 30th September
This year's conference theme is ' Harnessing the Innovation Potential of your Team'. The event will be of interest to established organisations and businesses, start-up companies, government bodies, academics, policy makers and anyone who is interested in stimulating the local Irish economy. The international guest speaker at the conference will be academic, author and business strategist Dr Trish Gorman. Find out more.
Marion McAneney Graduate Research Award
As part of the conference applications are now being sought for the 2014 Marion McAneney Graduate Research Award. Now in its fourth year, the Marion McAneney Graduate Research Award acknowledges excellence in reviewing academic literature on any aspect of innovation and identifying gaps in our understanding. Ultimately the Marion McAneney Graduate Research Award creates connectivity between emerging research scholars and relevant policy and practice audiences. Submissions are welcome from postgraduate students who are currently registered for Masters or Doctoral Studies in business and social sciences or who have completed their studies in the past year(since June 2013). Students should have been undertaking thier studies at a University or Institute of Technology on the island of Ireland. Eligible research students should submit their literature review in any area of innovation studies by 5pm on Monday 15th September 2014. Find out more
All Island Innovation Programme
The InterTradeIreland 2014 All-Island Innovation Conference and Innovation lecture series are part of the InterTradeIreland All-Island Innovation Programme which aims to promote and encourage innovation across the island of Ireland. It brings international expertise in innovation to University College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast, NUI Galway and University College Cork. Best international practice is shared with business leaders, students, academics, knowledge transfer professionals and policy makers in each region via innovation lectures, seminars, master classes and an annual conference.
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Ulster Bank Business Achiever Awards 2014 now open for entries - apply now!
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| CDE Global, Ulster Bank Business Achiever Awards winners 2013 |
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Ulster Bank is calling on SMEs across the island of Ireland to enter this year’s Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards.
Run in association with InterTradeIreland, the Irish Independent, Enterprise Ireland and SmallBusinessCan.com, the awards are now open for entry at BusinessAchieversAward.com.
Closing date for entries is Friday, 26th September. Apply now!
Entries are open to businesses across all sectors. There are eight categories in total and businesses can enter a maximum of two of these categories choosing the ones that best match their business description.
Prizes
- A €50,000 advertising bursary with the Irish Independent.
- Exclusive internationally recognised business mentoring from Enterprise Ireland.
- A full service communications workshop for you and key staff given by leading PR, Marketing, Sales and Communications specialists.
- A specially commissioned Ulster Bank Business Achievers Award trophy made exclusively for Award winners to provide a lasting recognition.
Benefits
Once you complete the application on the Ulster Bank Business Achievers website, there are many opportunities that you and your company can benefit from. The application process itself is an opportunity to reflect on what your business is all about and clearly articulate your Unique Selling Points. It’s an opportunity to work on your business rather than in it by stepping back to look at achievements, challenges, market trends and areas for improvement.
Judging Process
Throughout each stage of the awards, companies will be judged on a variety of merits including financial performance, company milestones and achievements, future strategy for the business and the development of innovative products and services.
Following an initial judging process at the preliminary stage of the awards, competing businesses will be shortlisted for provincial awards. Provincial award winners will then go on to compete in their respective categories at an all-island awards ceremony in December 2014, where one category winner will also be crowned overall ‘Ulster Bank Business Achiever 2014’.
Apply now!
Find out more about the awards by visiting http://www.businessachieversaward.com/. You can also follow all the action throughout the 2014 awards using @ulsterbank_baa and #UBBAA.
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Prestigious awards keep coming for SJC Hutchinson Engineering
Adapted from articles which appeared in News Letter on 29 July 2014 and Belfast Telegraph on 22 July.
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| Mark Hutchinson, MD SJC Hutchinson Engineering with Martin Clarke Coleraine Borough Council |
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Engineering and manufacturing company, SJC Hutchinson Engineering is continuing a winning streak as it celebrates another major accolade for its people management practice. The Londonderry based company has been named as a top organisation for people management practice in the UK, having been awarded the title of Best Newcomer at the first Investors in People (IIP) awards held in London last month.
The IIP Awards, which received over 500 entries from all over the UK and different sectors, celebrated the best people management practices amongst Investors in People accredited businesses. The Best Newcomer category recognises a newly accredited company which has achieved immediate tangible benefits since being accredited, and can demonstrate a clear strategy for future growth.
Mark Hutchinson, managing director at SJC Hutchinson Engineering said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this award. It was a real honour just to be shortlisted alongside such great organisations, but to win is the icing on the cake.
"Investors in People Awards judge, Jack Torrance, added: “SJC Hutchinson Engineering is an exemplary example of a business using the spirit of IIP to transform and improve business performance. The company has rigorously monitored the impact of empowering management staff and boosting reward and recognition and has seen an impressive boost in KPIs as a result.
The changes have resulted in substantial new business and SJC Hutchinson Engineering looks set for a bright future.”
The accolade follows managing director Mark Hutchinson's young businessperson of the year award in the Belfast Telegraph's Business Awards 2014. He has also been shortlisted in the Northern Ireland heat of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2014. The company has also been recently recognised as an InterTradeIreland NI Business Ambassador for its achievements to date.
About Hutchinson Engineering
Hutchinson Engineering is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading sub contract laser and metal fabrication companies. A family business, it was founded in 1971 and now employs around 85 people, specialising in laser cutting, folding, fabrication, kitting and design services for a wide range of sectors from aerospace to agriculture. The company recently launched a specialist aerospace division, Hutchinson AeroTech, in Antrim.
Support from InterTradeIreland’s FUSION programme allowed the company to expand the range of services it offers to customers while at the same time introducing more efficient manufacturing techniques.
Find out more about Hutchinson Engineering by visiting www.hutchinson-engineering.co.uk. If you are interested in our FUSION programme, please visit www.intertradeireland.com/fusion
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10 things only exceptional bosses give employees
Adapted from article by Jeff Haden, Influencer, Ghostwriter, Speaker.Inc Magazine Contributing Editor
Good bosses have strong organizational skills. Good bosses have solid decision-making skills. Good bosses get important things done.
Exceptional bosses do all of the above -- and more. (And we remember them forever.) Sure, they care about their company and customers, their vendors and suppliers. But most importantly, they care to an exceptional degree about the people who work for them.
And that's why they're so rare.
Here are the top ten things that only exceptional bosses give employees:
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