Cookstown Enterprise Centre

Financial Services Technology Company in Cookstown

A technology company from Cookstown has recently launched two new UK orientated websites. PolicyDetective.co.uk and AccountDetective.co.uk are the innovative new products from Policy Detective Ltd. which evolved in recent years with help and guidance from the Cookstown Enterprise Centre.

The websites were opened by Professor Alistair Fee BSSc, DipM, FCIM, FWIF, FInstSMM, FRSA, FHEA – Visiting Professor of Marketing and Innovation at Queens University, Belfast. The event took place in the Pump-House, which was once at the heart of Harland & Wolff during the construction of the great White Star Liners – the Britannic, Olympic and most famously, the Titanic. The Pump-House is now part of the Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP) which offers agile office space facilities to knowledge based enterprises, large and small. 

The websites help the public to find information about old life insurance; pension policies; bank or building society accounts issued by companies which are no longer in existence (due to takeover, merger, closed-book transfer, re-branding, etc.) and are no longer administered through the details shown on the original documents. Customers can search the online database and find the information they require by looking for the name of the company which issued their policy or account. They can then find the company which currently administers their policy/account. This is a free service to the general public, there is no registration or commitment – simply use it and move on.

Cookstown Enterprise Centre have recently completed another course under the Exploring Enterprise Programme.  One of the participants, Mary Gates has turned her dream into a reality by opening her own business in September 2009. ‘Lite Female Fitness’ is Cookstown’s only fully equipped gym and exercise studio exclusively for women. Mary said: “It has always been a dream for me to open my own business and with the help of the Exploring Enterprise Programme I have been able to realise my dream. Cookstown Enterprise Centre helped me to research my business idea, put together a marketing plan, research legal issues concerning my business, develop budgets and forecasts but most importantly they helped raise my confidence which gave me the belief to start the business.”

SECOND TRADELINKS PROGRAMME SECURES £3M TO

 ASSIST CROSS BORDER MICRO ENTERPRISES

Project to help realise untapped potential of micro enterprise sector on both sides of the border

A new cross border business development programme, that aims to assist and grow the important micro enterprise sector across Northern Ireland and in the border counties of Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal, was recently launched in Cookstown.

Promoted under the campaign banner of ‘Tradelinks’, the programme has received £3m worth of funding from the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme to help support the micro enterprise sector.  Tradelinks is a partnership initiative delivered by Enterprise NI, the network of local Enterprise Agencies and the Border County Enterprise Boards. It is also supported by both governments, through the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.   

The overarching aim of Tradelinks programme is to assist 550 micro businesses on both sides of the border to identify and address barriers to cross border trade and development.  Using a portfolio of business development and support tools, experienced business advisers will work hand-in-hand with business owners to assist them to become more sustainable and competitive with a view to developing cross border trade opportunities and linkages as well as helping to generate greater added value, earnings and wealth within their local communities.

Speaking at the launch, Howard Keery, Director of the Joint Technical Secretariat within the Special EU Programmes Body which manages the INTERREG IVA Programme, said:  “The Tradelinks programme is an excellent example of an EU supported initiative that will create direct benefits for micro-enterprises on a cross-border basis. Designed to help overcome many of the challenges faced by business owners, particularly in today’s tough economic landscape, it will enhance their competitiveness by providing the support and assistance they need to grow and develop.”

Speaking about the Programme, Ciaran Higgins, Manager of Cookstown Enterprise Centre said: “This is the second Tradelinks programme delivered by the LEA/CEB network and we hope that it mirrors the successes of the first programme.  The quality and the variety of support which we believe Tradelinks offers the micro-enterprise sector is testament to the time, commitment and consideration that has gone into providing a programme which will benefit all those companies participating.”

Michael Tunney, Chief Executive of Donegal County Enterprise Board and Joint-chair of the Tradelinks Management Committee, commented, “The outcome of the collaboration between the Border County Enterprise Boards and Enterprise NI resulted in a very successful Tradelinks1 Programme.  That support, to over 680 micro businesses across the 12 county regions, led to the creation of more than 800 new jobs and in excess of €50m of new sales.”

Mr Tunney continued, “Although the economic climate has changed significantly over the last two years, it is now more important than ever before that businesses look at new markets both in geographical and sectoral terms. The Tradelinks programme is designed to assist the micro-enterprise sector to pursue new opportunities with the help of a network of over 300 business mentors and advisors.”

The Tradelinks Programme will be in operation until June 2012 and is available to any micro enterprise in Northern Ireland or the border counties of the Republic of Ireland.  For further information on the programme contact Cookstown Enterprise Centre on (867) 63660. 

Staff and Directors from Cookstown Enterprise Centre and Councillor Tony Quinn, Chairman Cookstown District Council, pictured with local councillors and Council Officers at the launch of Tradelinks Programme in the Glenavon Hotel, Cookstown.  The major business development programme will be delivered locally by Cookstown Enterprise Centre.

Owen Paterson MP, Shadow Secretary of State for N.I. (second left) recently visited Cookstown Enterprise Centre to hear about the work that the Centre does relating to local economic development.  Pictured welcoming Mr Paterson is Dennis Legge, Chairman, Trevor Wilson, Vice-Chairman  and Ciaran Higgins, Manager of Cookstown Enterprise Centre.

 Pictured is representatives of the board and management of Cookstown Enterprise Centre welcoming Owen Paterson MP, Shadow Secretary of State for N.I. on his recent visit to the Centre. 

 ”Can’t talk………. won’t talk…………” and that’s exactly what Zita did.  Zita Carlisle, Accounts Manager at Cookstown Enterprise Centre successfully completed a sponsored silence for Children In Need raising a grand total of £913.17.  Zita would like to thank everyone who supported and contributed to this very worthy cause.  Pictured is Dennis Legge, Chairman of Cookstown Enterprise Centre together with Ciaran Higgins, Centre Manager congratulating Zita on her fund raising efforts.

Pictured (from left) are Trevor Wilson, Vice Chairman of Cookstown Enterprise Centre; Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster; Ciaran Higgins, Manager of Cookstown Enterprise Centre and Paul Carr, DETI European Programmes.

Pictured at the launch of the Engineering Innovation Programme is (back row left to right) Myles Wylie, South West College Innotech Centre, Ian Kidd, DETI, Malachy Mc Aleer, South West College, Dennis Legge, Cookstown Enterprise Centre, Ciaran Higgins, Cookstown Enterprise Centre, (front row left to right) Gillian Winters, Engineering Training Council for NI, Councillor Tony Quinn, Chairman of Cookstown District Council and Fiona Mc Keown, Cookstown District Council.

Cookstown Enterprise Centre has just launched an exciting new Engineering Innovation Programme to help ambitious engineering businesses to accelerate their growth and innovation prospects. The Engineering Innovation Programme will assist a number of small engineering businesses in the Cookstown District to develop new or improved product and process developments and business improvement techniques, in order to enhance business competitiveness, performance and sustainability. This Programme is part financed by Cookstown District Council and the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Fund for Northern Ireland. Cookstown Enterprise Centre, in association with the InnoTech Centre at South West College will act as the delivery agents for the Engineering Innovation Programme.

For further information on the above programme please check the Business Development Section of this website.

 Pictured is Mary Monaghan, Office Manager at CEC trying out the new technology available in the logon.ni Mobile ICT demonstration Unit which recently visited Cookstown Enterprise Centre.  Also pictured is Karen Cox, ICT advisor at CEC and Ciaran Murray ICT business advisor for logon.ni. 

The mobile demonstration unit is equipped with the latest technology; including a satellite broadband internet connection, and is staffed by several experienced ICT advisors.  Cookstown based businesses were able to receive advice when the mobile demonstration unit visited Cookstown Enterprise Centre on 18^th June and local businesses availed of free guidance on a number of issues from setting up a broadband router, to simple practical ICT advice, as well as having the opportunity to avail of the new technology provided by the demonstration unit.  Ciaran Higgins, Manager of Cookstown Enterprise Centre said, ‘at a time when local businesses are feeling the effects of the economic downturn, there is an increased need for businesses to better embrace the opportunities afforded by effective use of ICT.  CEC is conscious that high value innovative use of broadband by SME’s can deliver business expansion, increase competitiveness and market share and lead to increased productivity.  For more information on the services offered by the logon.ni. Programme visit www.logon-ni.co.uk  or telephone 028 82 839012.   

Pictured is Ciaran Higgins, Cookstown Enterprise Centre making a presentation to John and Louise Girvan who recently received the Advantage NI District award for entrepreneurship, which recognises the achievements of entrepreneurship and young people in business.  John and Louise set up Ty-Tots with the help and support of Cookstown Enterprise Centre in 2007 and the business has grown to be a leading supplier of children’s accessories including nursery items such as children’s cots, beds, mattresses and changing facilities as well as travel accessories such as prams and car seats as well as feeding and playtime equipment. 

Cookstown Enterprise Centre recently appointed Dennis Legge as Chairman. 

He is pictured with Trevor Wilson, Vice Chairman