WIT News

Wexford businesses to forge closer ties with Welsh counterparts Posted: Tue, November 17, 2009

Owners and managers from small and medium enterprises in Wexford are set to develop stronger links with their peers in west Wales as part of a network being promoted by enterprise support agencies in the two countries along with Waterford Institute of Technology and Aberystwyth University.

Sustainable Learning Networks in Ireland and Wales (SLNIW) will help entrepreneurs share knowledge and experiences while also giving them access to international business expertise and networking opportunities.

A particular strength of the project which is currently recruiting in Wexford is that it will begin by working with network participants to identify the additional skills they may require to meet current business challenges.

Martha Phelan, Irish Coordinator, SLNIW said: “The SLNIW network can immediately offer its network members over 100 business contacts with 60 per cent of those outside of Ireland. The project can facilitate access to export opportunities and business partnerships in Wales. SLNIW also has a certain amount of funding available to meet specific development needs of enterprises involved in the SLNIW networks.

“The Centre for Enterprise Development & Regional Economy (CEDRE), School of Business at Waterford Institute of Technology and the School of Management & Business at Aberystwyth University will facilitate SLNIW network participants to identify what they require to develop their businesses and to maximise their creativity and innovation processes to advance the competitiveness of their enterprises.”

Breege Cosgrave, Business Advisor, Wexford County Enterprise Board added: “There is no doubt the climate for small and medium enterprises is very challenging at present and businesses need to be supported in achieving the type of competitive strength that can see them through the recession. There is great value in working with other companies of a similar size and the southeast Ireland/west Wales dimension to this programme adds an extra layer. This will be very much a working network rather than a cross-channel talking shop.”

Mary B Walsh of Gorey-based manufacturing company Ire-Wel Pallets Ltd was among the first to sign up for the Irish-Welsh learning network and said: “We in Ire-Wel envisage this network being an extension to what we already do with industry colleagues in the UK, Europe and the US – all of which benefit the company enormously.

“While all of us who come on board for the SLNIW project will be drawn from different business sectors and personal backgrounds, experience suggests many of the challenges we face within our organisations will be common to other companies of a similar size. The ability to tap into the experience of others in the network is of real value and there are clear opportunities for collaboration between businesses in the southeast region and our colleagues in west Wales.”

The SLNIW is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Programme 2007-2013 (Interreg 4A).

Applications for the programme are being accepted at present; further information is available at www.slniw.com or by calling Martha Phelan on 051-845 681.