Mayo Ideas Week celebrates 10 years in business
MAYO Ideas Week (September 23-28 ) celebrates 10 years ‘in business’ this year and promises to be better than ever.
Since 2009 it has built into a significant event on the business calendar offering a compelling selection of quality events featuring expert speakers, facilitators and presenters. Each is carefully selected to support growth in specific sectors and includes workshops, presentations and seminars for all stages of business from start ups onwards.
The theme for Mayo Ideas Week 2019 is 'Building Resilience', which is very appropriate in these challenging pre-Brexit times.
Speaking at the launch, John Magee, head of enterprise, Mayo Local Enterprise Office, commented: “I estimate that over the decade of Mayo Ideas Week the enterprise support agencies have worked together to deliver over 120 events and initiatives to over 8,000 people, businesses and students. This is a truly impressive achievement and an incredible reflection of the power of collaboration and partnership.”
He continued: “In keeping with this important milestone, this year's schedule is arguably the most impressive yet. With events focussed on a diverse range of areas including tourism, digital media, supports for early stage entrepreneurs and using technology to build your brand and develop your business, there genuinely is something for everyone.”
WestBIC have been involved in Mayo Ideas Week since the beginning and Seamus McCormack (area manager, WestBIC) emphasised its significance, saying: “In a world changing by the hour, we need people who can spot the opportunities for enterprise and embrace them. Mayo Ideas Week seeks to encourage people to look beyond challenges and capture such opportunities.”
Seán O’Coisdealbha (Údarás na Gaeltachta) said: “Tá muid ag tnú go mór leis an 10ú bliain de Seachtain Tuairimí Gnó agus mar is iondúil tá Clár breá suimiúil curtha le chéile.
“We are very much looking forward to the tenth year of Mayo Ideas Week and as usual it offers a very interesting programme.”
Mayo Ideas Week is a series of entrepreneurship, idea generation and business events hosted by the development and enterprise support agencies in Co. Mayo. Events take place all over the county and kick off bright and early at 8 a.m. on Monday, September 23, with a seminar and one-to-one meetings for SMEs entitled Innovating for Growth. At lunchtime in GMIT, Start and Scale your Business with GMIT iHubs is for high potential entrepreneurs and innovative start-ups.
Tourism businesses will benefit from a seminar entitled Digital Tech and Future Media – driver of growth for tourism companies, which takes place in Westport on Tuesday, September 24, in Westport.
The following day, Maximising the Tourism Potential of Mayo’s Dark Sky Park is a workshop in Ballycroy National Park which could open up new vistas for local tourist businesses.
Is Self Employment for Me? is a workshop in Ballina on the same day which could answer that thorny question for aspiring entrepreneurs. Angel investment (for investors and businesses seeking investment), digital marketing and how to build content, and opportunities in social enterprises are just a few of the other events on offer early in the week. This is just a small sample of what’s available.
Each event is specifically targeted to suit the needs of a particular business sector. Most are free of charge but require pre-registration. All events are detailed on the website (www.mayoideasweek.ie). The social media hashtag is #MayoIdeasWeek.
* Pictured at the launch of Mayo Ideas Week 2019 were, at back, from left: John Magee (Mayo Local Enterprise Office), Helena Deane (WestBIC), Gerry O’Neill (South West Mayo Development Company), Seamus McCormack (WestBIC), Katriona Gillespie (Mayo Arts Office), Turlough Rafferty (iHub at GMIT) and Seán O’Coisdealbha (Údarás na Gaeltachta). At front: Margaret Charleton (Enterprise Ireland), Niamh Charlton (Mayo North East Leader Partnership), Joan Fahey (Mayo Ideas Lab), Kathleen Calvey (Mayo Ideas Lab) and Michael Gill (GMIT).