Lisburn City Council
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Linton Ag, participants on Netherlands Trade Development Programme 2008 with Cllr Allan Ewart, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee
The Council's Business Development Programme comprises a fully integrated range of business development activities designed to encourage business growth, new job creation, enhanced business performance and drive forward the economic growth of the city.
Competitive Edge Programme
This programme aims to assist local companies to identify their key strengths, to grow faster and to sustain their competitive advantage through activities which will reduce costs, streamline business processes, exploit new market opportunities and increase their long-term sustainability.
International Competitiveness Programme comprising Trade Development Programmes to the Netherlands and to Central & Eastern Europe
This programme will centre around the selection of SMEs based in the City of Lisburn that have an interest in exploring/developing new business opportunities in the Netherlands market for the first time, with the explicit expectation that new strategic business linkages/partnerships are identified, which will result in new business for participant companies.
This programme will target owner/managers from growth orientated local businesses, and will identify and develop new market opportunities and strategic business alliances/partnerships in Central & Eastern Europe for participant companies. It is proposed that the programme ill include a market visit within Central & Eastern Europe.
Innovation Networks Programme
This programme aims to place innovation and research at the core of local business development activity and to develop strategic innovation partnerships between businesses located in the Lisburn City Council area and local universities and research centres. Local companies will be encouraged to increase levels of R&D by identifying and developing appropriate new technologies, new processes, new systems and new products that will add value and improve overall business competitiveness and profitability.
Sustainable Business Development Programme
This programme is a Council led citywide initiative designed to promote and raise awareness of sustainable business challenges and sustainable business opportunities to local companeis throughout the City. Companies will be signposted to support and advice on the advantages to businesses of adopting energy efficient and environmentally friendly methodologies, services and technologies to help reduce running costs and improve the competitive strength and profitability of local businesses. This new SME development initiative will also involve the recruitment of local companies to participate in a bespoke Sustainable Business Opportunities programme.
Please contact the
Economic Development Unit
for more information on new projects in 2008-2009.
Netherlands Trade Development Programme
To date the Council has had great success in the Dutch marketplace assisting local companies to access this key international market and identify new strategic alliances and partnerships. The most recent programme in February 2008 helped 7 local companies access the Dutch market with new sales worth €500,000 anticipated over the next eighteen months. The seven companies recruited are as follows:
Linton Ag provide Environmental and Economic Solutions for Agriculture and Industrial markets, offering a full spectrum of consultancy, design, manufacture, installation, after-sales service and support. The company has developed at least 2 new partnerships through the programme and coming into contact with new products and leading edge technology will help Linton Ag to develop new business in new markets such as the Republic of Ireland. Both Dutch companies' products were launched on their stand at the Balmoral Show and Linton is hoping for €170,000 of new sales in the 1st 3 months of trading. Linton's separators are currently being actively marketed in the Netherlands (with Dutch brochures) and they are hopeful of export sales in the short term.
Nigel Johnston from Linton Ag commented: "European Outlook has been the express land for Linton Ag into Europe."
Richard Matthews, Easa, Colin McClintock, Director of Environmental Services, Lisburn City Council, Councillor Allan Ewart
GB & RoI Exporters Programme
This major export development programme is aimed at assisting small and medium sized businesses in the Lisburn area to identify and exploit business opportunities in the Republic of Ireland & Great Britain. The programme, in its second year, was delivered by Full Circle Management Solutions on behalf of Lisburn City Council and successfully recruited the following 6 Lisburn companies:
Sydney Massey and Councillor Allan Ewart
One participating company
Massey Catering
, specialises in the supply, design, installation and servicing of commercial catering equipment. All of the products are sourced from mainland Europe and USA. Owner Manager Sydney Massey commented: 'There is no doubt that this programme has been of great benefit to the business with considerable time spent with the sales team in developing a new approach to planning, both in the local and RoI market. This includes the introduction of a new seasonal offer mailshot which it is hoped will increase sales by at least £50,000 per annum. Targeted meetings with a number of fast food outlets secured an additional £100,000 business in the RoI market through a new contract with KFC and the company has also now secured a new chip shop contract in the Limerick area worth upwards of £30,000.'
Councillor Allan Ewart, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee added: 'The Council recognises the importance of encouraging local businesses to expand and develop new export sales, and therefore the GB and RoI markets are very good starting points, as they are easily accessible and a natural progression from selling in the local marketplace.'
Mark Smiley, Cutting Industries and Cllr Jenny Palmer
Innovation Promoters Programme
Eight companies from the Lisburn City Council area participated in the Innovation Promoters Programme which aims to place innovation and research at the core of business development by helping companies to identify appropriate new technologies, new processes, new systems or products which will add value, assist business growth and improve overall business competitiveness. The following 8 companies participated on the Programme:
Bluescope Medical Technologies Ltd are a medical device company which has developed a technology platform to deliver continuous assessment of lung conditions for various diseases and situations. Currently the stethoscope is the main instrument for examination and diagnosis of the cardio-respiratory system and is the only substitute product available. The programme aimed to assist Bluescope to investigate and develop a technique for measuring respiration rate and depth. Dr Peter Donnelly, CEO of Bluescope Medical Technologies stated that: "It is extremely important in developing innovative medical devices that there is a clinical need and that the development is coupled and underpinned with advanced research. The support of Lisburn City Council has enabled the University of Ulster to lend a body of research and considerable knowledge to supporting Bluescope's technology platform and product portfolio and we can certainly see a long-term partnership developing."
Dr Peter Donnelly and Andy O'Hara founders of Bluescope Medical Technologies who were participants on the Innovation Promoters Programme 2008, pictured with Cllr Allan Ewart
Sales Development Programme
The Council funded Sales Development Programme recently provided sales development support for 4 small businesses based in the Lisburn City Council area. The core aim of this programme is to assist owner/managers of growth oriented local firms, to grow their businesses by identifying and developing quantifiable new saled opportunities. The following 4 companies participated on the programme:
Stephen Shaw, Production Manager at Balmoral Furniture explained that the aim of the project was to undertake a Sales Process Assessment and develop an enhanced Sales Management System. "Following discussions, it was agreed that the focus of the Sales Development Programme would be the review of the company's sales procedures and approaches, with a view to standardising sales development processes and setting up an effective sales management structure".
Vice Chair of the Economic Development Committee, Councillor Jenny Palmer explains how this programme differs from other marketing supports: "The hands on approach to the programme means each participant can identfiy potential new customers in areas that they will be capable of servicing, as well as developing a customised sales and marketing approach that enables them to present themselves in a highly professional manner. In this current economic climate, developing new sales leads should be a business imperative, and the Council is keen to ensure that our local companies have access to the best advice and support available to maintain and encourage business growth locally". She adds: "To this end the Council has reviewed the current portfolio of successful Business Development programmes and have updated and rebranded these where necessary to reflect the needs of the local businesses, with the Sales Development Programme now comprising part of the Competitive Edge Programme, which will also offer businesses an opportunity to focus on Supply Management aspects of their business if applicable".
Balmoral Furniture participants pictured with Cllr Jenny Palmer
Procurement Programme
This programme enabled 10 local businesses in Lisburn to develop a structured and professional approach to public and large private sector procurement. The programme provided the businesses with the tools to effectively tender for public and private sector tenders across Europe. Businesses who participated on the 2008 programme are as follows:
Cllr Jenny Palmer with Stephen Salley, HBK Architects
The (External)
Lisburn Innovation Directory
provides advice and signposting for local companies on a wide range of funding opportunities and assistance for innoviation and R&D activities and general business development advice and support.
Access the Economic Development Progress Report 2006 - 2007 , 2004 -2005 , 2002 - 2003 , 2001 - 2002 and 2000 - 2001 for further information on the wide range of business development projects funded by the Economic Development Unit and the associated programme outputs.