Businesses benefit from valuable financial information

BUSINESSES from the district got some valuable information at a conference on accessing finance in Craigavon Civic Centre.

The conference offered a definitive insight into the present economic conditions for SME’s and looked specifically at what is available to businesses in the Craigavon, Banbridge, Newry and Mourne, Down and Armagh Council areas.

This project is part financed by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland.

The initiative, which is also financed by the above five Councils, is part of the Achieving Finance programme, managed by Craigavon Borough Council and delivered by Lestas Consulting Ltd, a leading Management and strategic development company in Northern Ireland.

Michelle Lestas, Director, Lestas Consulting said: “The programme offers a set of standalone events, such as this one, that is open to all businesses in the region. To date over 100 businesses have been involved with different aspects of the programme and SME’s seem to appreciate that they can dip in and dip out of the programme to suit their requirements and needs.

“This has helped many of them to structure their financial plans and access support from both the private and public sectors as well as dealing with the many and varied financial issues they have in this current economic climate.”