Council celebrates success with 500th Go For It Programme business plan

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is celebrating a significant milestone after helping its 500th new business start-up to compile a Go For It Programme business plan.

This project is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth & Jobs Northern Ireland (2014-2020) Programme.

The Go For It programme provides advice and support to anyone wishing to start their own business, by taking them through the process of creating a business plan.

Mark Edwards at Enniskillen Taste Experience is one local business to have completed the Programme with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council after spotting a gap in the market for a unique food tour of Enniskillen.

Celebrating the success of the Go For It Programme in the district, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Cllr Siobhán Currie, said: “The Go For It Programme, which is one of a suite of Business Support programmes offered by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, has and continues to be a tremendous success in the area. The Council is committed to working in partnership with other key stakeholders to promote the district as a quality place to live, visit and work and our collaborative approach with the Go For It programme has certainly proved very successful. I am delighted that so many entrepreneurs have established the business of their dreams with the incredible support and expert advice on offer from our partners at Fermanagh Enterprise Company and Omagh Enterprise Company Ltd.

The Council has guided 500 local entrepreneurs such as Mark Edwards at Enniskillen Taste Experience through the business start-up process, helping them to turn their ideas into a reality. The Go For It programme enables budding entrepreneurs, like Mark to avail of expert advice to develop a comprehensive business plan, covering everything from accounts to marketing and long-term business growth.

New business start-ups, like Enniskillen Taste Experience, play a vital role in our local economy and as such, continue to be a priority for the Council. I would encourage anyone who has a business idea to get in touch and utilise the expert advice that the Go For It Programme offers.”

Enniskillen Taste Experience is a unique walking food tour of Enniskillen that offers guests the chance to experience an indulgent mix of local food and drink and listen to tales of Ireland’s only Island town.

Mark said: “We offer a premium tour which people can book via the website, as well as offering bespoke private tours. People buy the tour for a special occasion or as a gift and we have had people visit from all over Ireland and further afield take the tour, as well as a huge amount of local people.The tour stops off in a variety of local run businesses to sample an array of local produce, as well as plenty of storytelling and facts about the town and its local produce.”

After spotting a gap in the market, Mark contacted the Go For It Programme to seek expert advice and support in developing a comprehensive business plan to turn his idea into a viable business.

“The Go For it Programme was fantastic, it helped me turn my idea into a robust and viable business. My business advisor helped me to put together a business plan and do financial forecasts for the first two years which was important. The business plan helped me think about my long-term objectives and helped me be realistic about what I was going to achieve. It also allowed me to focus on sales targets and marketing plans, as well as insurance and legislative details.”

If you have a business idea you’d like to develop or if you are thinking about starting a business contact the Go For It Programme on 0800 027 0639 or visit: www.goforitni.com.

For further information please contact:

Media Contact: Vicki Caddy / Russell Lever
ASG PR
Tel: 028 9080 2000
Mobile: 07814 380487 / 077 8828 8901
Email: vicki@asgandpartners.com / russell@asgandpartners.com

The Northern Ireland Business Startup Programme – Go for it

This project is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth & Jobs Northern Ireland (2014-2020) Programme.

Invest Northern Ireland

Invest Northern Ireland works with individuals, companies and organisations in manufacturing and tradable services which show the ambition and commitment to grow by being more innovative, more entrepreneurial and more internationally focused.

Invest NI’s full range of support and services are delivered through local offices in Belfast, Coleraine, Ballymena, Craigavon, Londonderry, Newry, Enniskillen and Omagh, and an international office network.