Ten local business owners graduate to bigger and better things
On Thursday 11th December, 10 entrepreneurs from local County Wicklow based businesses received their certificates having completed the Local Enterprise Office Wicklow’s ‘Management Development Programme (MDP)’. The six month programme, delivered between September 2013 and March 2014, taught each participant how to remove themselves from the daily chores of running their business, and how to take that all important step back to start managing and growing their businesses towards their next milestone.
The MDP is accredited by the Institute of Technology, Carlow at Level 7. Head of Lifelong Learning at IT Carlow Mr. Joseph Collins was on hand to present the certificates to the entrepreneurs, along with the Director of Services, Enterprise & Corporate Services at Wicklow County Council, Mr. Tom Murphy. Addressing the current participants on the 2014/2015 Programme, in addition to those being presented certificates on the night, Mr. Murphy said, “We have been offering this programme to owner managers in County Wicklow for over 15 years, during which time more than 400 companies have participated. The businesses range widely in size, industry sector, turnover and maturity, but all have one thing in common, the determination and commitment of the owner manager to take whatever steps are necessary to become more effective and to run better businesses.”
Sheelagh Daly, Head of Local Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office Wicklow, was also present at the event, and she thanked the Institute of Technology Carlow for their support for the programme and indeed for their support for both business and education initiatives in County Wicklow.
Blaise Brosnan of the Management Resource Institute trained and mentored the participants throughout the six-month programme, and also said a few words at the presentation, reminding the participants of their key learning points from the programme and offering words of encouragement to continue on the road that they had started with the MDP.
The Management Development Programme is provided by LEO Wicklow in order to strengthen the capabilities of owner-managers of small businesses and to support them to sustain, and in time grow, their businesses.
