Open For Business: Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Week

From the 24/28th of May, Bank of Ireland held its second annual National Enterprise Week – with the aim of getting small and medium sized enterprises (SME's) back on their feet and giving them the support they need.

The week-long initiative was open to both customers and non-customers featuring events and showcasing opportunities for small businesses across its branch network. Up and down the country Bank of Ireland invited businessmen and businesswomen, customers and non-customers to talk about their business and set up displays, showcase their products and services within branches free of charge.

'Show Your Business'

'Show your Business', one of the most popular features of the week, allowed small businesses to bring their business straight to the heart of the community by promoting their products and services in their local Bank of Ireland branch. 

Over 1300 businesses took park in the initiative with many businesses seeing uplift in their sales for the week.

Some of the businesses who participated in show your business Nationwide included Eddie Casey from KC Enterprises which is an upmarket furniture retailer who moved from Longford to Mullingar one year ago with great success.

Brock Lewin of Badger and Dodo - boutique coffee roasters who provided fantastic coffee during Baggot St Dublin 'Show Your Business Week'.

Cork featured Create a Wish Angel – offering unique gifts ideal for new born babies and christenings to name but a few. It was the owner Audrey's second time to participate in such a week, finding the first week very useful in promoting her business.

Events

There were over 60 events Nationwide featuring industry experts and guest speakers – including Bobby Kerr and Sean Gallagher of Dragons' Den offering some fantastic business advice. There were several flag ship events taking place across the country such as a breakfast briefing in College Green where Rick Kelley Head of SMC Sales, Facebook gave advice on promoting a business using new social media.

Other profile events taking place were another business breakfast meeting in Thomond Park themed 'Meeting today's Challenges' where Frankie Sheehan, former Ireland hooker was MC and Sean Gallagher was the key note speaker talking about his own business story as an entrepreneur and Dragon.

Waterford held a successful Green event with Bewleys Hotel at Dublin Airport hosting the final of the events with fantastic advice from Michael Dawson of the Gift Voucher Shop.

Enterprise Builder

Several events, including Bewleys Hotel featured speakers – Enterprise Builder which is an independent support service developed by Bank of Ireland. The mentoring service offers support to growing enterprises in various stages of development.

The confidential service offers a diagnostic review provided by independent and experienced industry experts who are all senior executives within their own fields 

If you watch to watch exclusive videos from National Enterprise Event, click here Alternatively, you can listen to podcasts from the event by clicking here