29/04/2011

Belfast Targets Trade Outside NI

Business outside NI is being targeted by Belfast City Council, which is running a new business programme to help local companies enter markets outside of Northern Ireland for the first time.

The 'Exploring Exporting Programme' is aimed at assisting small businesses and social enterprises in the city identify new market opportunities in the Irish Republic and overseas.

The programme will consist of workshops on exporting; individual business mentoring; developing a business action plan and taking part in an export market visit that will include a minimum of five meetings with potential new customers.

To participate in the programme, firms must be a small business or social enterprise based in the Belfast City Council area with less than 20 employees.

They must also have no experience of trading in markets outside of NI but wish to make exporting a key part of your growth strategy.

The programme is free of charge and is open to 10 businesses in the city.

The programme is funded by Belfast City Council and the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland 2007-2013.

Completed application forms should be returned by 5pm on Thursday 12 May and businesses will be contacted once all applications have been accessed.

To request an application form or discuss any aspect of the programme, contact Elaine Scullion on 028 9045 2777 or email elaines@envision-ni.co.uk

(BMcC/GK)

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