Small businesses in Lisburn have competitive edge

TO help its local businesses edge ahead of their competition, Lisburn City Council has recently announced the latest phase of its successful business development initiative, the Competitive Edge Programme.

This project assists small businesses in Lisburn with the desire to increase their sales base through the introduction of new products/services or by entering into new markets both locally and in mainland GB or southern Ireland.

Over the past three years the programme has assisted 36 Lisburn businesses to identify £75,670 of new sales, and submit an additional £160,812 of quotations to new customers.

Participants benefit from a comprehensive range of support including skills development workshops, one to one mentoring, a local sourcing event, pre–arranged sales meetings with prospective customers, sales pitch training, and provision in the support of CRM software.

“Each participant will also be supported to create a structured business growth action plan to ensure the business has clear and realistic growth objectives over the next two years.

“Our approach to providing this support centres around working with the businesses on a one to one basis and really getting to grips with their issues, and working with them to develop both the skills and the confidence to really make things happen,” said Simon Devlin, of Full Circle Management Solutions Ltd who are delivering the programme on behalf of the Council.

Commenting on the Programme, Alderman Jim Dillon, Chairman of the Council Economic Development Committee said: “The Council is delighted to be able to once again offer this high impact sales development programme for local companies. The programme has a proven track record of supporting companies in their efforts to build new sales and to grow their business, both of which are crucial for survival in the current economic market.”

The Competitive Edge Programme will be delivered over a seven month period and is set to commence in February 2013. The programme is open for applications until 4pm on Friday, February 8.

For more information on this programme or to obtain an application form, contact Patricia Owens at Full Circle Management Solutions Ltd on (028) 9069 1027 or email [email protected]

The project is part funded by Lisburn City Council, Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland,

Further information on business development programmes can be found on the Council website www.lisburncity.gov.uk.