Tuesday 27 April 2010

WIN participants continuing to find work....

Dear Caroline

I am writing to thank you for all your assistance to me, as it is through your network (WIN) that I have secured a job as a production operator, with a great possibility of progressing up to production supervisor and on to production manager. There were over 350 applicants for the position.

Caroline, you and your organisation (WIN) have been invaluable to me, through your training and guidance, I regained my confidence and self worth. You helped me build on my skills and gave me the confidence to go forward with belief in myself. I no longer have this lost feeling and your training gave me a focus and sense of purpose. You have shown me that through your training and networking that anything is possible. I will be forever grateful.

Yours sincerely
Niall Devlin

Wednesday 21 April 2010

Enterprise Ireland - Propel Programme

Enterprise Ireland has revealed a new ‘Propel’ programme aimed at supporting up to 12 new export-focused start-ups in ICT and life sciences that are capable of achieving revenues in excess of €1m.


The nationwide business development programme, which follows a successful pilot in the border and midland areas, is aimed at supporting the setting up of start-up companies in the information technology and life sciences sectors that have significant export potential.

The initiative, the latest stage of Enterprise Ireland’s ‘Propel Ideas into Business’ Programme, is geared towards providing a select number of entrepreneurs and early stage businesses with the skills and training required to take the next step in expanding their service offerings, in Ireland and overseas.

Successful participants in the programme will receive top-class training from management consultants, PA Consulting, on how to manage a business during the start-up phase, financial support of up to €15,000 from Enterprise Ireland and office space, as well as advice and networking support to get their business up and running.

To be considered for the programme, applicants must be able to demonstrate a viable business proposition, capable of achieving revenues of at least €1m and employing 10 personnel within three years
You can get an application for the Propel programme from Enterprise Ireland. Galway office: 091 735900 . Applications will close on 23 April.

Next session: 23rd April. Topic: Social Media Channels

This week we are delighted to have Aoife Porter from Bua Marketing coming to talk to us about Social Media Channels.

She will give us an overview of social media channels including: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and how to measure success.

Social media marketing is the process of promoting yourself, your site or business through social media channels and it is a powerful strategy that will get you links, attention and massive amounts of traffic. There is no other low-cost promotional method out there that will easily give you large numbers of visitors, some of whom may come back to your website again and again. If you are selling products/services or just publishing content for ad revenue, social media marketing is a potent method helping you develop your business over time.

Bua Marketing works with companies to:

• Build Brands and Markets
• Reach New Customers
• Deliver Integrated and Cost-Effective Marketing and Communication Strategies
• Bua Marketing works with a portfolio of customers across a variety of industries including the telecoms, FMCG, hospitality and public sectors.

Bua Marketing’s services include:
• Market Research and Feasibility Studies
• Competitive Analysis
• Marketing & Communications Strategies
• Optimal use of Digital Marketing Channels
• Operational Marketing Services

Aoife Porter is a proven sales and marketing professional; with a background in the software and eLearning industry, she previously worked for Microsoft and Dublin-based eLearning company ThirdForce.
Aoife Porter is a member of the Marketing Institute and recently completed a Diploma in Digital Marketing with the Digital Marketing Institute.

www.buamarketing.ie

Thursday 15 April 2010

Some more feedback....

I have participated in the West of Ireland Networking Group since the inaugural meeting. The forum has become invaluable with many benefits, especially, that of being able to meet and interact with individuals who are dealing with unemployment in the current difficult jobs market. The information sharing and networking with people outside of my normal circles and industry, the knowledge imparted by the variety of guest speakers are just some of the other benefits enjoyed from my participation with the West of Ireland Networking Group.


Caroline McDonagh founder and CEO of WIN, has proved herself to be a resourceful and determined person in establishing the WIN group, in providing a constant stream of relevant and interesting speakers so that the meetings and the time invested by herself and the participants is always worthwhile and fruitful. Her use of multiple channels i.e. a blog, LinkedIn, Twitter and e-mail has brought recognition of the network (WIN) from an impressive audience, of both national and international observers, some of which are high powered decision makers in the world of industry and commerce, thus ensuring that all communications are first-class and current.

In conclusion I have found the WIN Group, the exposure to the influencers of industrial focus, the interaction with the members of WIN, the bi-weekly meetings of the group, and the guidance, enthusiasm, knowledge and leadership of Caroline McDonagh to be an invaluable resource in my search for focus and understanding, both of myself and my capabilities, in gaining new employment.

Kevin O'Malley

Monday 5 April 2010

Previous Session: April 9th

Mick Brougham from Enterprise Ireland was our guest speaker on April 9th.

Mick spoke about design thinking which is an approach that uses the designer’s sensibility and methods for problem solving to meet people’s needs in a technologically feasible and commercially viable way.

Design thinking is human-centered innovation and was pioneered by IDEO (a global design and innovation firm) who use the methodology to do everything from stimulate customer savings at Bank of America to revamp nursing shifts at Kaiser Permanente.

Over the past 30 years, the firm has tackled the challenge of delivering a needle-free vaccine for Intercell, building a better Pringle for Procter & Gamble, revitalising the bicycling experience for Shimano, and rethinking airport-security checkpoints for the TSA. It has racked up more than 1,000 patents since 1978 and won 346 design awards since 1991, more than any other firm. IDEO has become the go-to firm for both American and foreign companies looking to cure their innovation anemia

Mick also talked about Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint and how this approach is necessary to make an effective pitch. This rule is applicable for any presentation to reach agreement: for example, raising capital, making a sale, forming a partnership, etc. Formerly an Apple Fellow, Guy is now a venture capitalist and founded the angel matchmaking investor service called Garage Technology Ventures.

Mick Brougham is a graduate of NUIGalway with a PhD in Biochemistry. He has worked in Enterprise Ireland and its progenitor organisations since 1991.

Over the last number of years Mick has been working on the development of Enterprise Ireland’s approach to helping startup entrepreneurs. In this he works closely with the Third level system in terms of the provision of such training programmes and Enterprise Ireland supports the entrepreneur through the provision of the CORD grant.