Entrepreneurs encouraged to‘Go For It!’

Lord Mayor Councillor Kevin Savage with Cara Dallat (CIDO), Samuel Marshall (Banbridge Enterprise Centre), Fiona Quinn and Dermot Hicks (Armagh Enterprise Agency) pictured at Banbridge Civic Building at the launch of "Go For It" programme, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council in partnership with Armagh Business Centre Ltd, Banbridge District Enterprises Ltd and Craigavon Industrial Development Organisation Ltd is offering local budding entrepreneurs ‘virtual’ access to the Go For It Programme to help them launch their business idea during the Coronavirus pandemic. ©Edward Byrne Photography

The local authority in partnership with Armagh Business Centre Ltd, Banbridge District Enterprises Ltd and Craigavon Industrial Development Organisation Ltd is offering budding businesspeople ‘virtual’ access to the Go For It Programme to help them launch their business idea during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Would-be entrepreneurs will get the chance to speak to a business advisor remotely via telephone or video conferencing about their business idea and find out how the Go For It Programme can help them. Go For It can help any budding entrepreneurs do more than dream up a good idea - it can help them turn it into reality. It has mentored over 6,000 aspiring entrepreneurs across all 11 council areas of Northern Ireland in the past two years. It provides expert, free advice and support to anyone wishing to start their own business, by taking them through the process of creating a business plan. It covers everything from financial forecasting to marketing and long-term business planning.

ABC Lord Mayor, Cr Kevin Savage, said: “I would encourage anyone in this council area who has an idea to start their own business to avail of the free advice and support through the Go For It Programme, particularly at this time. We are an entrepreneurial region and recognise our people are our greatest asset. I am always impressed with the skill, talent, can-do attitude, innovation and creativity of local people who have ambitions to be their own boss. We have a team of experienced business advisors, who are working remotely, through our network of enterprise agencies to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with expert advice and support to help start their own business.

“Our business advisors will work with each individual to help create a tailored business plan unique to their business idea, focusing on important elements including financial forecasting and accounts, sales and marketing, and how to potentially access funding.”

A local entrepreneur who has completed the Go For It Programme and didn’t let the Coronavirus pandemic stop his pursuit of running his own business is Simon Burrell from igarden in Banbridge. igarden is a grass cutting and garden maintenance business providing a wide range of services including lawn mowing and treatment, hedge trimming, power washing, facia and gutter cleaning for household and commercial clients. Simon is also NPTC qualified to carry out small tree removal and pruning. Simon is a career civil servant of more than 25 years and started cutting grass, hedges and small garden maintenance for close family and friends. After building a small clientele base, he took the decision to start his very own business with the support of Go For It. Simon said: “I had no business acumen, and the programme gave me the reassurance and encouragement that I needed to launch my business.”

To find out more call 0800 027 0639 or visit: www.goforitni.com.

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