Enterprise & Employment

In recent times, there have been substantial job losses in labour intensive industries in the Midland Region. Job creation is therefore, a main priority for the Midlands. The Authority will support and work with the job creation agencies, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise Boards, Partnership Companies, Leader Companies etc., in establishing the Midlands as an attractive location for industry. It will also endeavour to support the agencies in attracting high value added jobs, particularly in the pharmaceuticals, health-care, biopharma, food processing and ICT sectors. The Authority will also continue to support the activities of the Midland Business Innovation Centre located at Athlone Institute of Technology.

WESTBIC:

A focus on new projects and innovation within the indigenous micro-enterprise/SME sector is an important way of encouraging entrepreneurship, improving economic sustainability and creating local wealth over the larger term.  One such measure is through the introduction of established business innovation supports and methodologies on a formalised and structured basis to provide services in the Midlands, as proposed by the Midland Regional Authority, WESTBIC and Enterprise Ireland. In January 2004, formal approval of grant aid for the establishment of a WESTBIC office in the Midlands was granted from the Innovative Actions Fund.

All activities will be undertaken in consultation and co-ordination with existing organisations and agencies to ensure that optimum integration takes place at the level of the entrepreneurs or SME.

The Authority has a partnership arrangement with WESTBIC, providing office space in the Authority's office in the Bridge Centre. WESTBIC provide a fulltime staff member, two days a week, to provide a range of services to business clients in the Midland Region.

WESTBIC main aims are:

• To support the competitiveness of indigenous industry in the start-up and early- stage development phases
• To hand-hold innovative and knowledge-based enterprises through the business development path

WESTBIC deliver a wide range of services to achieve these aims, such as :

• Market Animation/Training
  • Graduate Enterprise Programmes •(AIT)
  • Idea Generation Modules (in association with AIT),•(Laois, Ferbane)
  • Proposed Rural Enterprise Programme •Laois/Offaly
  • Client Mentoring Programmes •(sector specific and/or in specific disciplines)
  • Franchise Seminar •Athlone Ch. of Commerce, Enterprise Boards etc
  •  Entrepreneurial Modules
•  Core Client Support
  • Identification and evaluation of innovative new business proposals (Advice & guidance Development planning) –iBotz – Longford
  • Market research/feasibility work –Longford Farmers Market
  • Business Planning support –James Casey Homecooking, Longford
  • Accessing finance –Grant aid (Clara Childcare) –Seed capital (Last Mile Wireless, Athlone)
  • Support to existing companies –G’s Jams, Abbeyleix
• Direct support to Intermediaries
  • Project Evaluation Work –Longford Farmer’s Market (LCRL)
  • Support for Incubation Space –Longford County Enterprise Board –Ferbane Enterprise & Technology Centre
  • Project development work –Laois LEADER
  • Implementation of additional/complimentary enterprise support programmes –Eg. Interreg IIIB – Quaity SME, Atlantech etc.
  • –AIT, WCEB, Ch. Of Commerce, MRA etc.
• Support to Third Level
  • Previous Graduate Enterprise Programmes
  • Annual Innovation Award
  • Offer of support to Innovation Centre –Explore areas of most benefit –Client Support
  • External Services Unit –R&D transfer programmes –Possible Tech assistance to access additional resources and opportunities
  • CBI –Joint training Initiatives (eg Idea Generation Modules)
• Incubation Space
• Development of local links/networks

County Development Boards (CDB's):

County/City Development Boards were established in each county and city in Ireland in early 2000 as part of the reform process in the local authority sector. The Boards brings together representatives from local government, local development agencies, social partners (including the community and voluntary sector) and state agencies active at local level.

Following the publishing of the National Task Force guidelines in 2000, the CDB's set about creating a strategic plan through working groups and published their strategies in early 2002. In 2006 each County Development Board reviewed its strategy, and set priorities and targets for the next three years, focusing on issues such as Economic Development, Social Inclusion, Poverty, Promoting Tourism, Sustainability etc.

The Authority will work closely with County Development Boards on achieving their targets on a case by case basis as the need arises.

County Enterprise Board's (CEB's):

County Enterprise Boards was established in 1993 as part of a government initiative to encourage entrepreneurship at a local level.

The CEB's provide a range of flexible and innovative support services to small businesses to promote and stimulate economic activity, creating quality employment, increasing the number and the survival rate of micro-enterprise in each county.

This is achieved through the administration of a range of financial and soft supports designed to support business creation and to improve productivities and efficiencies among existing enterprises.

The Authority will work closely with the County Enterprise Boards to support their effort in promoting the development and sustainability of micro enterprises.