Over 40 businesses from across North Cork gathered in the Charleville Park Hotel last Tuesday night in an event which showcased the strength and diversity that the business community has to offer the region, in terms of both local employment and product offering.
The event, organised by Local Enterprise Office Cork North and West and supported by Cork County Council, was a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to display their products and services, network and forge stronger links between each other. To this end, in a presentation entitled ‘Digging a Well before you get thirsty’, JJ O’Connell of Plato Business Support and Development Network impressed upon the business owners present of the importance to success of building and maintaining strong networks as they continue along their business journey.
The evening’s proceedings were kicked off by Kevin Curran, Acting Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Cork North and West who told those in attendance: “You represent what is best about business here in the region. This evening presents a great opportunity to showcase your own business, learn from other businesses and perhaps do a little business between yourselves”. Mr Curran encouraged those present to avail of every offer of assistance from other business owners and to tap into the support services provided by the Local Enterprise Office.
Reflecting the ever increasing role that the local authority now plays in the sphere of economic development, the gathering was then addressed by the CE of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey who reflected that “a town like Charleville, situated in the ‘Heart of Munster’ and so close to the county boundary, will almost instinctively embrace the importance of building networks and contacts”. He went on to say that “work has been ongoing over the last number of months on a REDZ project, harnessing the energies of both Charleville and Kilmallock, for their mutual benefit and now looking to join forces with their neighbours in Mallow in a network and cluster of engineering companies”. Mr Lucey wished those in attendance well in their respective businesses and reflecting the vibrancy in the room commented: “There will be an ongoing role for Cork County Council through its Local Enterprise Office and Economic Development Team to underpin initiatives such as this. As we might say in Irish ‘Ní neartgo cur le chéile’”.
Following the formal networking segment of the evening, where each business present gave a brief overview of their business, those attending had ample opportunity over light refreshments to meet with the other businesses present. There were, as a result, a very good number of mutually beneficial business to business connections made over the course of the evening and supplies sourced which again will help to ensure that business stays in the locality.
(L-R: Louis Duffy, Cork County Council, Kevin Curran, LEO Cork North & West, Erin Quealey, St Mary's Charleville, Marek Szepietowski, H&S Publications, Tim Lucey, CE, Cork County Council)
