Training courses offered by LEO Mayo

E­veryone in business is well aware that if you remain static, you’ll very quickly be left behind. Business practice continues to evolve with disruptive models and practices, new technologies come on stream every day and society continuously changes… how do you stay ahead?

Local Enterprise Office Mayo is determined to ensure that start-ups and young businesses in Mayo have access to the training and up-skilling support necessary to give them a fighting chance of survival in the challenging early years, and of prospering when they become more established.

If there are any training courses you would like to see come available in the coming year please contact the Local Enterprise Office by Email  info@leo.mayococo.ie

Courses

Training courses are run throughout the year, particularly during the spring and autumn. A full list of courses currently available to book is available in the online booking section of our website. 

Below is a full list of courses running over the coming months and will be available to book online approximately 4 weeks before starting dates:

Courses we generally run include:

Start Your Own Business Programme

This course aims to assist participants to develop an awareness and practical understanding of the steps involved to become self-employed. The course will enable participants to understand the essentials of good business management, analyse day to day trading and plan for further growth.

Course overview

• Introduction
• Overview of key areas of managing a business.
• Company Formation and Structures
• Planning the business
• The Business Plan and its importance in current and future trading.
• Marketing,  Market Research, Target Market, Product Promotion and Presentation.
• Basic Bookkeeping:  Break Even, Pricing, Margins and continuous Sales Analysis.
• Understanding Financial Accounts and Balance Sheet,
• Budgets and Cash Flows.
• VAT, an introduction. Vat 3 Returns.

Effective Marketing for Small Business

This course aims to assist participants in understanding how to market their business effectively.  It focuses on how to find new customers and get more business from existing customers through effective, practical and low-cost marketing activities.

Course overview

• Develop the skills and knowledge to evaluate their current marketing activities.
• To understand the traditional and newer marketing communication tools available to small businesses, and which might be appropriate for their business.
• To develop an effective marketing action plan for their business or a business with which they are familiar.

Essential Tax, Vat, Cashflow, Debt Management

Management of cash flow function, costing & pricing strategies that can minimise credit control risk.

Course overview

• Maintain proper financial records to satisfy Revenue and all other requirements.
• Have a complete understanding of all relevant Revenue forms
• Prepare their own VAT returns
• Have in place proper procedures for employing people
• Understand the true cost of employing people
• Have an understanding of how to calculate wages, PAYE, Universal Levy, Holiday Pay etc.
• Price work accurately
• Understand the importance of cash flow
• Manage their bank position
• Understand how to deal effectively with banks on finance issues.
• Understand how to grow both sales and profits.
• Understand and interpret their end of year accounts and take appropriate action

Social Media for Beginners

The social media workshop is for beginners and aims to introduce participants to various social media tools: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedln, Pinterest, Blogging etc and learn how they can use them for their business needs.

This course is designed to help start-ups and existing businesses who have no experience of social media to begin using it as part of their marketing effort. Learn the role of social media in today’s marketing and why you might incorporate various social media platforms into your promotional activity. Topics include strategy, social media as a promotional tool and matching the best platforms with your target markets.

Social Media for Business workshop - Facebook ADVANCED

The aim of the programme is to assist businesses who have an established business Facebook page and wish to take their use of Facebook as a business development tool to the next level.

Course overview

• Consider the impact of the Facebook Algorithm on Facebook Marketers
• Identify 8 ways to increase the organic reach of your Facebook page
• Content creation and planning
• Identify the 6 steps required to set up Facebook Ads
•  How to use Conversion Pixels for advanced Facebook Ads reporting
• Advanced audience targeting techniques (Custom, Lookalike and Saved Targeted)

Customer Service Training

Customer Service Training: This workshop focuses on helping participants gain an insight into how great customer service can be used to drive sales in your business

Plan and Develop a Website

Suitable for businesses planning a website and for those seeking to review and upgrade their existing website. To equip small business owners with the knowledge & awareness of what makes a good website, how to create search engine optimised content, understand the most important factors in web design. To maximise opportunities offered through social media integration and online advertising.

This workshop is suitable for businesses planning a website for the first time, and for those seeking to review and upgrade their existing web presence. The core objective is to equip small business owners with the knowledge & awareness of what makes a good website, how to create search engine optimised content, understand the most important factors in web design, and maximise opportunities offered through social media integration & online advertising.

Course overview

• Website fundamentals
• Setting business objectives for your website (online sales, lead generation, etc)
• Visitor needs on your website
• Site design & usability
• Website content
• Content Management System basics
• Bringing the right visitors to your site:
  • Search Engine Optimisation
  • Paid advertising
  • Social media
  • Email marketing
• Monitoring and protecting your website
• Creating an action plan for your website