Local Business Owners Aiming High for 2018
Nineteen County Wicklow based business owners graduated from an intensive management programme on Thursday 14th December, at a ceremony held at the Glenview Hotel. The Local Enterprise Office Wicklow (LEO Wicklow) organise the prestigious 'Management Development Programme (MDP)' each year which gives experienced business owners the chance to rethink their business strategies, examine their pricing and profitability, and discover how to grow their businesses. The Programme, which is led by renowned international business consultant and author Blaise Brosnan, is accredited at level seven on the national framework of qualifications by The Institute of Technology Carlow. Presenting the certificates to the MDP graduates were CEO of Wicklow County Council, Frank Curran, Head of Lifelong Learning at Wicklow County Campus, Lyndsey Malone, and Head of Enterprise at LEO Wicklow, Sheelagh Daly.
Speaking at the event Frank Curran reiterated the importance of small business to the County saying “the ability of businesses like yours to succeed and grow in County Wicklow underpins our future potential for jobs, growth and prosperity. The Management Development Programme is provided by the LEO Wicklow in order to strengthen your capabilities as managers of your businesses and to support you to sustain and grow your business. Wicklow County Council is fully committed to continuing to support your efforts to realise the development and growth of your businesses into the future”.
Participants on the programme spoke about their own experience of transforming their business thinking over the course of the programme and the significant benefits of having formed a close trusted business network which will be an on-going resource. There was a great atmosphere of positivity and energy in the room and both the graduating participants and those businesses undertaking the current programme all expressed high expectations for their businesses going into 2018. This is the 22nd year that LEO Wicklow has provided the ‘Management Development Programme’ to local business owners, and more than 400 businesses have taken part over the years.
The ‘MDP’ is open to small local businesses (less than ten employees), that are established (approximately more than two years in business) and wish to grow. The programme is always very popular, and generally oversubscribed. In order to express an interest in taking part in the MDP commencing in September 2018, please email enterprise@leo.wicklowcoco.ie.
For other training courses and seminars to be offered by LEO Wicklow in 2018, go to www.localenterprise.ie/wicklow and look at the Training and Events section.
