Enterprise Ireland
Annual Report and Accounts 2005
Annual Report and Accounts 2005
In 2005, Enterprise Ireland set up the Community Enterprise Centre (CEC) managers’ network for key people involved in providing support for businesses through the CEC facilities. The National Enterprise Centres Association (NECA) brings together managers to share experiences, information and business contacts and to enhance their skills levels.
By coming together in a network, CEC managers will learn about best practice techniques involved in running the centres and supporting clients. They can avail of joint marketing and purchasing discounts by working together for mutual benefit. They are also better placed to lobby Government and to network with Institutes of Technology across the country. The first meeting of the NECA was hosted by Enterprise Ireland in Mountmellick Enterprise Centre, Co. Laois.
Enterprise Ireland has also worked closely with the network to enhance the skills levels of managers. A Postgraduate Diploma in Business Development for Incubator/Enterprise Centre Managers was developed as a result, combining the efforts of the NECA, Waterford Institute of Technology and FÁS. The first course begins in 2006.
Robert Begg, Manager of Balbriggan CEC, believes the new managers’ network is having a significant impact on the development of support services for client companies. He says:
“The network allows us to pool experiences and resources so that we can learn from each other and get the best deal for our members in areas such as procurement. Some managers have already benefited from sizeable reductions in insurance premiums thanks to the network.”
To date, over €34 million has been approved for 137 projects to build or extend CEC facilities and 112 of the centres are located outside Dublin. The centres accommodate 840 businesses around the country which employ 3,800 people. They provide key infrastructure and resources that encourage and support start-up businesses throughout the country, especially in areas where new enterprise activity is under-developed. Such support and encouragement for innovative entrepreneurial activity throughout the regions is a major objective of Enterprise Ireland. The NECA will strengthen the advice and support offered to these clients, bringing world class systems, practices and skills levels to centres across Ireland.
