STIMULATING AND SUPPORTING NEW BUSINESS IN IRELAND

New CEIM Enterprise Development Programme announced for the North-West

By James Donlon, September 25, 2006

CÉIM is the most successful Enterprise Development Programme in the North West and is offered by the Institute of Technology Sligo and Letterkenny Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Border Action, Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta. It is a full-time business start-up programme delivered over twelve months designed to assist entrepreneurs to establish and manage their own businesses.

The programme is now recruiting for its third year and is targeted at people with innovative business ideas (which have high commercial and export potential) who live or wish to relocate to the North West region. CEIM will consider applications from third level graduates, people who have been made redundant and the groups identified by the EU Peace II Programme. Successful applicants will be able to avail of training, financial and other business supports, networking opportunities and incubation space.

What it provides to Entrepreneurs:·
· Training in all areas of business
· Grant aid from Enterprise Ireland or Udaras na Gaeltachta for eligible applicants
· Mentoring from experienced business advisors and practitioners relevant to participant’s projects
· Office and other business incubation facilities at ITSBIC Sligo or LYIT BDC Letterkenny.
· Networking with other entrepreneurs and business development agencies
· Introduction to seed and early stage capital investment organisations.