On the 23rd of January, the County Mayor, Cllr. Barbara Murray will open two new enterprise centres in County Cork – the E Millstreet Enterprise Centre and the E Bantry Enterprise Centre.
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 is delighted to launch the opening of the E Bantry Enterprise Centre and the E Millstreet Enterprise Centre. The ‘E Centres Fund’ is open to any town or village in the County who wish to set up a similar facility. We aim to have a number of these centres in a network around the county. Existing facilities are open at Charleville, Millstreet, Fermoy and Macroom.’
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.
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 initiative works with local community groups in each region with the support of existing organisation’s and local philanthropic-minded businesses to establish the Centre. Speaking on behalf of Millstreet Development Association, Veronica Perdisatt said ‘Millstreet Development Association is very appreciative of the support and funding received from Cork County Council, IRD Duhallow and O’ Keeffe’s Supervalu in establishing E Millstreet. Millstreet Development Association would also like to thank Alps Electric for all of their support during the project. We hope that the E Millstreet Centre will become a key facility in encouraging an individual or small business to setup a business in a low cost environment, with access to mentoring and training, while sharing the facility with other small business. We want to encourage small business and individuals that have an idea to come and talk to us at E Millstreet and use the supports structures that are already available. Millstreet Development Association also wants to establish and develop E Millstreet as a facility for training and further education in areas identified to improve employment prospects for people’.
Speaking of the upcoming launch, Michael Hanley, CEO of West Cork Enterprise Board said “We are delighted to part fund the venture, which will be an exciting addition to the infrastructure in Bantry. We look forward to working with the partners involved to develop and expand the centre.”
The E Bantry Enterprise Centre will be opened by the County Mayor, Cllr. Barbara Murray on Wednesday 23rd of January at 11am and the E Millstreet Enterprise Centre will open at 3.30pm on the same day. All are welcome to come and view the facilities and join in the positive atmosphere of opening the new facility.