The enthusiasm for entrepreneurship is alive and well in Fingal, say organisers of Fingal Enterprise Week 2014, as they reveal over 1500 small business owner managers and entrepreneurs from across the region attended this year’s programme of events.
Organised by Fingal Local Enterprise Office, over 15 seminars, workshops and interactive events attracted a wide range of small business managers and entrepreneurs.
Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Fingal Local Enteprise Office said: “Covering topics from technology to food, communications to finance, Fingal Enterprise Week 2014 focused on supporting and encouraging small business and entrepreneurship in Fingal. With the invaluable support of sponsors, Vodafone Ireland, Bank of Ireland, Regus and Newstalk, the week saw a remarkable number of business owner managers and aspiring entrepreneurs benefit from inspiring speakers, practical events and business connections, the impact of which will be felt in the Fingal business community in the weeks and months ahead.”
Fingal Enterprise Week 2014 kicked off on Monday October 6th with the ‘Future Tech Trends’ event, as a panel of experts set out to advise small business on navigating the global tech landscape. This was followed by the ‘Stop Hesitating, Start Networkng’ event, guiding participants in successful networking with expert in networking psychology, Sean Weafer.
11890 CEO, Nicola Byrne lead the ‘Strategic Thinking’ networking breakfast on Tuesday morning while student entrepreneurs were welcomed to Draiocht Theatre in Blanchardstown to participate in the interactive workshop, ‘Next Generation of Innovators’, as part of the Fingal Student Enterprise Programme.
Food was in the spotlight that evening with the Dublin Food Chain’s ‘Food On The Move’ event, giving local food producers the opportunity to hear food and beverage buyers from Ryanair, Bewley’s Coffee and Topaz share insights and industry ‘top tips’. A masterclass with Fingal-based food operators Keelings and Country Crest was also well-attended on the night.
‘Fingal StartUp Day’ on Wednesday, October 8th was the flagship event of the week, with local startups and entrepreneurs benefiting from expert advice and practical information on finance, business planning and marketing. In association with Vodafone Ireland, the day also included free Business Advice Clinics and an exhibition of government support agencies for small business.
Motorcheck.ie, a Swords-based online supplier of automotive data to the consumer and automotive trade, was announced as 2014 Fingal Enterprise Award winner at the ‘Success Leaves Clues’ networking event on Thursday, October 9th. Hosted by broadcaster Ian Guider and with Guest Speaker, Sean Gallagher, the Fingal County Finalists of the ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ competition were also revealed.
Ben Millett (25) of ‘Stayhold’, a start-up offering a solution for carrying goods safely in the car boot, was announced as Fingal’s ‘Best Young Entrepreneur’ as well as receiving the accolade for ‘Best StartUp Business’; Jospeh Kuye (19) of ‘Touchtech Payments’, an M-Commerce payment processor, was awarded ‘Best New Idea’ while Dan Davern (28) owner of ‘DX2 Training’, an online learning management system, won ‘Best Established Business with new add on’.
Fingal Enterprise Week 2014 drew to a close on Friday, October 10th with the ‘Effective Visual Merchandising’ workshop for local Craft and Design businesses and the ‘Get Noticed: Branding Communications & PR for SMEs’ seminar, with communications expert Terry Prone of The Communications Clinic heading a panel of PR and branding specialists advising small business on how to generate media interest and develop business relationships.
Fingal Local Enterprise Office provides on-going training programmes in a range of areas for small business. For more information, please visit www.localenterprise.ie/fingal
ENDS
For all media queries, please contact Engage Ireland: Adrienne Ferguson on 086 355 2974 Tel: 01 4278388 / office@engageireland.com
Photography: Images from the events are available on request from Engage Ireland.
Notes to Editor:
Fingal Enterprise Week 2014
Fingal Enterprise Week 2014 ran from Monday, October 6th to Friday, October 10th throughout Fingal. The official website for all information is www.fingalenterpriseweek.ie
Fingal Enterprise Awards 2014
WINNER: Motorcheck (Benchmark Automotive) Michael Rochford – www.motorcheck.ie (www.benchmark.ie) based in Swords, Co. Dublin
Motorcheck (Benchmark Automotive) was founded in Dublin in Oct 2002 by Michael Rochford and Shane Teskey. It is a provider of technology driven products and services to the Fleet and Automotive Industry and Ireland’s leading supplier of automotive data services to the insurance industry, motor trade and related sectors. It is known primarily through its online brand Motorcheck.ie.
Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur – Fingal County Final
Best Start Up Business and ‘Best Young Entrepreneur
WINNER: Ben Millett (25) Stayhold Ltd. www.stayhold.com based in Swords, Co. Dublin
Launched in July 2013, this Irish-designed product sticks to the carpet in the car boot and prevents loose objects from rolling around. The company now supplies The Home Depot in the USA along with other retailers / distributors worldwide. Having introduced Stayhold Mini to the product range, the aim is to grow the business by creating sales in other territories while further expanding the product range and establishing the brand as the number one name in car storage solutions. The company has grown significantly over the last year in both sales and forward orders. www.stayhold.com
Best New Idea (Not yet established) Category
WINNER: Joseph Kuye (19) Touchtech Payments from Tyrellstown, Dublin 15
Joseph is from Tyrrellstown and at 19 years old, is a student at Trinity College. Touch Tech is an m-commerce payment processor for mobile shopping applications, that enables consumers who are using these mobile applications to pay for merchandise by simply tapping the back of their phone with their card and entering their pin when prompted to do so. This is beneficial to merchants and banks as a fraudulent transaction can never be made using the system saving them hundreds of millions of potential profit each year that are lost to charge-backs. Touchtech Payments have an office in Launchbox in Trinity College (http://www.launchbox.ie/2014-teams).
Best Established Business with new add on (over 18 months)
WINNER: Dan Davern (28) DX2Training www.dx2training.ie based in Swords, Co. Dublin
Dan has developed an add-on to his existing Health and Safety training, consultancy and supplies business, which comprises a fully 3D animated and customised online learning management system for individual customers. Available in 30 languages and fully exportable, it can be tailored for European and Worldwide markets.
