Community and Enterprise Groups in Cork County invited to avail of the ECentre Initiative

 A recent policy document by Forfás states that the Action Plan for Jobs recognises that all parts of society and community can share in and contribute to, economic renewal and recovery.  In particular, the action plan notes that there is a strong social enterprise base in Ireland, which could be further examined with a view to determining its potential for job creation.

The document details social enterprises that were identified including community retail and care services, tourism and heritage products; leisure and sports services and energy production.  Another example of social enterprises which are now coming to the fore are community-run enterprise centres aimed at bringing businesses together in a town or village, from start-up’s to established companies and those working remotely (say from a multi-national).  Cork County Council’s E Centres initiative provides funding for centres in local communities, towns and villages so that entrepreneurs can work from their own locality.

Social enterprises are business models which are set up to tackle social, economic or environmental issues and while they are driven primarily by social and/or environmental motives, they engage in trading or commercial activities to pursue these objectives and produce social and community gain.  The weekly rental rates  ensures that businesses and individuals don’t have to tie themselves in long term leases, and allows much more flexibility in terms of day to day operations.

The E Centres are currently set up in Macroom, Bantry, Millstreet, Charleville and Fermoy with three more in planning for other towns.  In these centres, a business can avail of a hot desk, shared services along withthe contacts both in the community organisation and the wider state supports available.

Ger Power, Head of Finance and Economic Development  at Cork County Council states that “The E Centres are an initiative of Cork County Council that demonstrates our commitment to the economic development of the region, and supporting enterprise and community through the Economic Development Fund.  Supporting business and start-ups is crucial to progressing the region further economically.”

Interestingly, the European Commission has placed the social economy and social innovation at the heart of its concerns under the Europe 2020 strategy.   Social enterprise accounts for about 6% of GDP across the EU and the European Commission’s ‘Europe 2020’ strategy sets a target for this contribution to grow to 9% GDP over the decade to 2020.

Non-profit making groups in Cork County who are interested in starting an E Centre are encouraged to make contact with Julie Crowley on 026-20520 or jcrowley@macroom-e.com or to check out the information available on www.ecentres.ie.  Businesses who are interested in taking a hot desk in one of these centres are also encouraged to contact Julie for more details.

END

Editor’s Notes:

Forfás

Minister of State for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock T.D., has been tasked by the Taoiseach to lead the Government’s action on the report in social enterprise, developed by Forfás. The recommendations included in the report refer to the provision of funding and access to procurement for social enterprises.

For the full Forfás report “Social Enterprise in Ireland – Sectoral Opportunities and Policy Issues”, visit http://www.forfas.ie/publication/search.jsp?ft=/publications/2013/title,11029,en.php

 

Two New Enterprise Centres!

E Millstreet and E Bantry to Support Local Businesses

On the 23^rd of January, the County Mayor, Cllr. Barbara Murray opened two new enterprise centres in County Cork – the E Millstreet Enterprise Centre and the E Bantry Enterprise Centre.

Speaking at the events she said ‘I am delighted to be here to celebrate with you.  These wonderful business facilities are something new and something to be celebrated.  Watch this space folks, there are E Centres popping up all over the place!’

The two new facilities come about as part of Cork County Council’s Economic Development Fund.  The initiative works with local communities in towns and villages all over Cork County to provide facilities for local people to start and grow their business.

Speaking of the initiative, Ger Power, Head of Finance and Economic Development for Cork County Council says ‘Cork County Council took a brave decision to make funds available for these initiatives.  Projects like this don’t start and or not sustained without partnerships and we are delighted with the support that has been received from the Enterprise Boards, IRD Duhallow, the Millstreet Development Association, O’Keeffe’s Supervalu Millstreet, Alps Electric and the Bantry Business Association’.

The new facilities have hot desks, training/meeting rooms and break-out facilities. The Centres have access 24/7, are furnished to a high standard, have broadband, direct-dial telephones, a break-out area and comfortable meeting facilities.  It has everything a business would require without any of the hassle of setting up an office or taking out a long term lease.  Hot Desks are generally rented out on a month-to-month basis and there is also a flexi-desk option available for those who would like to use the centre for just a day or a half day.  The big advantage of the centre is that businesses will meet peers in a similar situation, establish and develop supportive contacts with them and the state enterprise bodies.

The County Manager Martin Riordan also spoke at both events and thanked all those involved who worked very hard to make the two projects a success.  He said the facilities provided a low cost, high quality facility and encouraged local businesses to start and grow their business in the supportive environment being established.’

Ideal clients for the new centres include those who are starting or growing a business, those who wish to use a smaller office space due to the need for downsizing or those who are working remotely from head office and do not wish to work from home.  The Centre will also be open to those who wish to book meeting space for training or other meetings.

The Chairman of West Cork Enterprise Board Michael Hennerbry said in his speech that ‘This E Centre is for the local community and surrounding hinterland and we encourage people to use it to the fullest and to support it.  The Enterprise Board organises a wide variety of training courses and we would hope that these spaces will be a training space for businesses.  Programmes offered in the locality can be viewed on www.wceb.ie and www.nceb.ie.

Speaking at the Bantry event, the Chairman of the Bantry Business Association said that ‘it was great to be involved in something that brings good news to Bantry and that he was delighted to have the Town Mayor, the Mayor of the County and the County Manager at the event.  He said he looked forward to growing the ongoing relationship the Association has with Cork County Council.’

In Millstreet, Tony McCaul, Chairman of the Millstreet Development Group gave the large attendance ‘a warm welcome and sincerely thanked the County Council for funding the E Centre and said without their backing it would never have got off the ground’.

Cllr. Gerard Murphy who is Chairman of the Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee also spoke at both events and said that ‘the participation of the local community is of the utmost importance.  He said that Cork County Council are getting more and more involved with Economic Development with 1% of the rate base being contributed to continue the development of these and a lot of other initiatives.’

The E Millstreet Centre and the E Bantry Centre join a network of centres in Cork including Charleville, Macroom and Fermoy.

Project manager Maeve Bowen said ‘If you are in business, we would be delighted to meet you and show you the new facilities and also if you are a community/business group who wish to start an enterprise centre locally, please don’t hesitate to contact me for further information on the funding and assistance available’.