Councils Join Forces on ‘Opportunity Export’ Event

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are working in partnership with Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council to deliver a free ‘Opportunity Export Event’ on Tuesday 4 April in Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn. This event is part of the successful ‘Sales Accelerator Programme’, aimed at all micro and SME businesses in both Council areas.  

The ‘Sales Accelerator Programme’ provides assistance to small business owner/managers to enable them to explore, target and convert new sales opportunities. To date, more than 200 businesses across both council areas have engaged in mentoring support to help achieve real sales growth. This includes learning how to gain more customers in their respective home markets as well as exploring export options through practical in-market support. 

The event, hosted by local journalist and presenter Mark Carruthers, aims to demonstrate the opportunities available to small, local businesses through discussions with local exporters based in the two council areas. Keynote speakers include Shane McCarthy, Two Stacks Whiskey; David Ausdahl, Lowden Guitars and Conor Brogan, Arcus Systems who will each share details of their export journeys.

‘Opportunity Export’ will also feature a panel discussion with two of Northern Ireland’s newly appointed export champions, Alan Lowry, Environmental Street Furniture and Patricia O’Hagan, Core Systems. Past programme participant, Deepak Sampson from Ethelcare, will also be in attendance.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from Invest Northern Ireland and InterTradeIreland on the different methods of support available to early-stage exporters.

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Mayor, Councillor Scott Carson said,  “We are delighted to work with our colleagues in Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to offer this event to local businesses, free of charge.

“The Sales Accelerator Programme has been a highly successful initiative which has seen many of our local businesses selling outside of their home markets for the first time.  And so, we are keen to encourage continued momentum, particularly when the economic climate has been so challenging in recent times”.

Newry Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage said, “We anticipate that demand for places at the ‘Opportunity Export Event’ will be high and so would encourage businesses from both regions to sign up as soon as possible as places are limited.

“This is a great opportunity for businesses to not only be inspired, but to hear what practical support is available for them to kick-start or increase their export sales in earnest.”

The Sales Accelerator Programme is part-funded by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Newry Mourne and Down District Council, Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth and Jobs Northern Ireland (2014 – 2020) Programme.

For more details on the event, simply search ‘Opportunity Export’ on Eventbrite or click the link below, where you can register for free. Places are limited and so we highly recommend early registration. https://bit.ly/3Yn3CO2