The Western Development Commission (WDC) has announced its support for the Féile Icarus business planning workshops which will be held in Connemara on the 27th and 28th August 2010. The full-day workshops will provide a supportive platform for entrepreneurs, start-ups, innovators and creatives to identify their strategic challenges and devise practical ways to unlock their business potential.

“Given our strategy to promote and develop the creative sector in the Western Region, we are delighted to endorse the Féile Icarus project” said Joanne Grehan, Regional Development Executive at the WDC.

“Our 2009 study ‘Creative West: The Creative Sector in the Western Region’, showed that there are 4,779 creative businesses operating in the Western Region, directly employing over 11,000 people. This generates an annual turnover of €534m and directly contributes €270m to the Gross Value Added of the regional economy. It is therefore a major economic contributor to the region that we believe can be grown significantly, and events like Féile Icarus are critical to driving that growth”, she added.

Féile Icarus promoter, Chris Mortimer said, “Entrepreneurs are driven by their passions and learn from their failures. Through this event, we endeavour to make use of those learnings and devise actionable plans that will capitalise on the passions.” He continued, “Traditional training programmes tend to overlook these elements, whilst at Féile Icarus we aim to harness them as a springboard for business and creative planning.”

During the workshop, participants will work through a number of business critical questions, drawing on the expertise and insights of the group. All delegates will develop a ‘flight plan’, and identify a ‘tag-team’ partner, with whom they will collaborate after the event, as they implement their action plans.

“Féile Icarus adopts a unique approach to helping entrepreneurs by encouraging them to learn through facilitated peer discussions set against a backdrop of clear structure, discipline and a value proposition. By supporting entrepreneurs like these to turn their ideas into viable businesses, we move closer to realising the potential to create an extra 2,000 jobs in the creative sector in the Western Region”, added Ms Grehan.

Féile Icarus is inspired by the Greek tale of Icarus who fashioned makeshift wings to aid his escape, only to fall fatally from the sky due to flying too close to the sun.

“Modern entrepreneurs have a lot to learn from Icarus,” said Chris Mortimer. “Icarus had the passion to succeed and the creativity to devise an innovative solution. His biggest mistake was not recognizing when he was failing and changing his focus accordingly. As entrepreneurs we know that failure can be a fantastic catalyst for change, however we must be honest about where there is scope for improvement”.

The workshops provide an opportunity to bring together the different sub-groups that make up the creative economy. Tickets for the events are priced at €19.50 per day and can be purchased at www.feileicarus.com

For further information please contact:

Chris Mortimer, Féile Icarus, 087 096 3818
or
Joanne Grehan, Western Development Commission, 086 856 5802
or
Bernadette Mullarkey, Bane Mullarkey, 086 806 2540

Notes to editors on Chris Mortimer

Chris Mortimer has been involved in start-up companies, developing products and helping other start-ups since 1997. He has a background as a communications trainer, web marketer and entrepreneur and is passionate about change, innovation, empowerment, the web and making a difference. In his past he has developed practical, learning models and educational games as well as online communities and services.

A successful networking event to promote the Western Region to key London-Irish business people was recently held by the Sligo Business Network in London (SBN), supported by the Western Development Commission (WDC).

The event was attended by people originally from Sligo who have made London their business base, and the evening focussed on WDC’s continuing work on positioning the West for economic recovery. A special guest in attendance, was Michael Feeney, founder of the County Mayo Peace Park, who that day had received his MBE from Queen Elizabeth for services to UK-Ireland relations.

In her address to assembled guests Joanne Grehan, Regional Development Executive at the WDC said that they were delighted to partner with the SBN to engage directly with important decision makers. She said that the event was a great opportunity to build on the success of LookWest.ie in promoting the region as a great place to live, work and do business.

Andy Rogers, founder and Chairman of SBN London said that the event was a great example of the Network’s role in encouraging investment and business start-ups in Sligo. “There are significant advantages from tapping into the network of Sligo people based in London who can themselves act as ambassadors for the West of Ireland and ultimately help drive economic recovery and job creation,” he said.

The resources of less developed regions are not being utilised fully.  But mobilising these resources and the unfulfilled potential in regions such as the Western Region, will add to overall national economic growth.  It is a waste of talent and opportunity if the full potential of all regions is not realised.  That’s according to Why Care About Regions? A New Approach to Regional Policy, a Policy Briefing published today by the Western Development Commission (WDC).

Dr Helen McHenry, Policy Analyst at the WDC said: “If we want national growth we need to invest in all our regions.  Helping less developed regions to grow will bring benefits for the whole country.  This was highlighted in recent reports published by the OECD.”

Regions are ready to respond, as was shown by the growth which occurred during the boom.  In the Western Region, for example, the labour force participation rate rose from 56% to 61% during the period of rapid economic growth 2000-2007.  The WDC believes it is now important to ensure that the advances made during that period are not lost.

“There is often a presumption that some regions have more ‘potential’ than others, this shouldn’t be used to justify concentration of investment in those regions,” she added.  “Concentrating resources in one place is not enough to bring about sustained national growth.  Harnessing the assets of both rural and urban regions will bring the greatest overall benefit.”

The WDC says that although transport and other infrastructure developments are essential for regional development they are not enough by themselves.  Investment in infrastructure must be maintained and combined with investment in the ‘3Es’ of enterprise, employment and education, along with a drive to increase innovation.  “The OECD found that when these elements work together they create regional and national growth,” Dr McHenry said.

“Regional policy is relevant to all policy.  There is a need for an identifiable single figure at national level to co-ordinate regional policy if it is to be fully effective.”  Dr McHenry concluded: “Public policy has a vital role to play in developing all regions and helping them achieve their potential. There is no single approach which will work for all regions but if regional policy is effective it will take account of differences and will result in a country with better options for all of us.”

The Policy Briefing is the first in a series of WDC Policy Briefings which will highlight and provide discussion and analysis of key regional policy issues.

Why care about regions? A new approach to regional policy is available to download here.

For further information please contact:

Dr Helen McHenry, Policy Analyst, Western Development Commission, 086-6053264 / 071-9668998
or
Bernadette Mullarkey, Bane Mullarkey, 086 806 2540

LookWest.ie Photo Competition to Capture the Buzz and Magic of Sligo

The Western Development Commission (WDC) has launched a photo competition to capture a Sligo summer moment as part of its LookWest.ie initiative to promote the Western Region as a great place to live, work and do business.

The competition, in association with Capture Gallery and Sligo Chamber, will take place as part of the summer programme of festivals and events and LookWest.ie wants people to share their most inspiring, exciting, fun-filled photos capturing the perfect Sligo Summer moment. Landscapes, surf-scapes, festivals, gigs and summer fun-filled shots – the competition will capture the buzz and magic of Sligo and the organisers are especially looking forward to seeing great photos from the Lissadell concerts and surrounding fringe events.

Ian Brannigan, Development Manager at WDC said: “This July, all eyes are on Sligo for sunshine, surf, sailing, GAA and, above all, the eagerly anticipated Leonard Cohen and Westlife concerts at Lissadell House. We are asking people to get out their cameras and show how their county shines. Simply ’snap and send’ your images via www.LookWest.ie or email photos to photos@lookwest.ie”

The competition will run for the month of July and prizes will include a netbook from local broadband provider, Fastcom Broadband. A shortlist of the top 20 photographs will be chosen by a judging panel of Sligo photographers. The shortlisted photos will be exhibited from Wednesday August 4th until Saturday August 14th at the recently opened Capture Gallery, Sligo’s only dedicated fine art photography exhibition space. The winning photo will be chosen from the shortlist of 20 by a public vote during the photo exhibition in Capture Gallery and online via LookWest.ie

“Because the competition is online, people from all over the world can look west and join in the fun. Through the photos they will see the beauty and the character of county Sligo and that will help promote the Western Region as an attractive location for enterprise,” Mr Brannigan concluded.

Details

The competition will run for the month of July. To enter log on to www.LookWest.ie or email photos to photos@lookwest.ie

Ends

For further information please contact:
Ian Brannigan, Western Development Commission, 086 604 8012
or
Joanne Grehan, Western Development Commission, 086 856 5802
or
Bernadette Mullarkey, Bane Mullarkey, 086 806 2540

About Capture Gallery

Capture Gallery opened in May 2010 to provide a dedicated place for photographers, both local and national, to showcase their work. The gallery aspires to encourage photographers to develop their own unique styles and express their personalities through the medium of photography at the highest standard, as well as giving the public an opportunity to consider photography as an alternative art form. The gallery has a full calendar of exhibitions for the remainder of 2010, as well as eight more commercial exhibitions planed for 2011.

Capture Gallery is also available for commercial hire throughout the year www.capturegallery.ie

About Sligo Chamber

Sligo Chamber is the largest business membership organisation in the North West of Ireland, representing over 300 businesses and organisations in Sligo City and County. Sligo Chamber is accredited to Chambers Ireland, Ireland’s largest business network with 60 member chambers representing 13,000 businesses on the island of Ireland. The Chamber is based in Quay Street in Sligo City. www.sligochamber.ie

Mayo Schools Presented with US$11,500 by Irish American Partnership

Five County Mayo schools have shared US$11,500 in funding from the Irish American Partnership under its ‘Primary School Library and Science’ Programmes. The funding will be used to purchase books, reading materials and science materials. Of the five schools, three are in Swinford; Killasser National School, Meelick National School and Culmore National School, and two are in Tourmakeady; Tourmakeady National School and Colaiste Mhuire post primary school.

Two men with strong Mayo connections, Jim Durkan a native of Swinford and Patrick Heneghan whose ancestors came from Tourmakeady, were instrumental in the decision of the Irish American Partnership to award funding to the five Mayo schools. Mr Durkan and Mr Heneghan are both based in Chicago and are active members of the Partnership.

Cheques were presented to the principals of the five schools by Patrick Heneghan and Chris Kozicki representing the Irish American Partnership. Speaking at the presentation, John Cribbin, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council said: “On behalf of the principals, teachers, parents and pupils of the five schools, I would like to extend our sincere and heartfelt thanks to Jim Durkan, Patrick Heneghan and Chris Kozicki and the wider Irish American Partnership for their generous donation. It will greatly assist the work of the fortunate five schools“. Peter Hynes, Mayo County Manager welcomed the awards as “a very real demonstration of the linkages which bind the Mayo Diaspora worldwide.”

Joanne Grehan of the Western Development Commission (WDC) said: “The Irish American Partnership is a great friend of County Mayo and of Ireland. Through our work on LookWest.ie the WDC is nurturing relationships with the Irish Diaspora with the aim of increasing inward investment into the Western Region. Organisations such as the Irish American Partnership are very important in helping us to engage with the Irish population overseas in innovative ways. The diaspora is an asset to Mayo and the Western Region and we want to strengthen links between highly successful expatriates and the innovative businesses and projects operating in the Western Region.”

Mary Sugrue McAleer, Vice President, Irish American Partnership said: “We are delighted to have raised this money for the Mayo schools and want to extend our sincere appreciation to Jim Durkan and Patrick Heneghan for organising the recent golf tournament in Chicago. With over 10,000 members across the United States, the Irish American Partnership raises funds to support educational opportunities, job creation, and cross-community projects in Ireland, both North and South.”

Members of the Irish American Partnership have been responsible for over $16 million in grants to Irish education to date as part of their ingoing support for Irish schools. The Partnership works closely with the Department of Education and Science to identify appropriate programmes and schools for funding.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Joanne Grehan, Western Development Commission, 086 856 5802
or
Angela Bane, Bane Mullarkey, 087 286 5217

www.wdc.ie and www.lookwest.ie