David Meade Leads Mid Ulster Enterprise Week 2021

David Meade, renowned international speaker, heads this year’s Mid Ulster Enterprise Week (8th – 12th November 2021) which features a series of online, interactive events from Mid Ulster District Council.

A total of 11 webinars will take place across the week under the theme of ‘Innovation, Creation, Inspiration’, with David Meade focusing on the leadership skills required to keep a team energetic, enthusiastic and connected.

Inspirational entrepreneur, Aoife Doherty, founder of ‘Sass & Halo’ will tell her successful start-up story to BBC journalist and presenter, Holly Hamilton, outlining how she turned her passion for fashion into a thriving business.

From start-ups to expanding enterprises, three business innovators – Darragh Cullen of Edge Innovate, Brigid Derry from Derry Bros Customs Clearance Ltd and Derry Bros Shipping Ltd and Sinead Welsh who leads Informed Minds Training and Consultancy Ltd – will be providing their audience with an insight into how innovation has helped to give their companies a competitive advantage.

Retaining talent by improving the culture in the manufacturing sector is also on the agenda when the former MD of Whale and the current Chairman of Nugent Engineering, Patrick Hurst MBE, will be joined by the Tim Monroe, Marketing Director at Smiley Monroe.

Continuing to operate in a business world dominated by virtual contact is a theme across the week.

In demand speaker, Andrew Toogood of Proclaim Consulting, will be giving his take on how to develop the power of diverse thinking to communicate more effectively to impact positively on teams, clients and customers.

Communications specialist, Camilla Long will reveal the art of negotiating whether in a virtual or face-to-face setting, while social media experts, Niamh McAuley and Tierna Byrne will be delivering a session about how to create engaging video content on TikTok and Instagram to boost digital customer engagement and, in turn, sales.

The retail sector will benefit from an evening session with visual merchandising expert, Mags McAlpin, who will be providing practical advice on attracting customers back to the high street in the pre and post-Christmas periods.

And the hard-hit tourism sector is invited to a panel discussion on the future of the tourism and hospitality industry in Mid Ulster with Jamie Delargy who will be in conversation with Joanne Stuart (NI Tourism Alliance), Paula Wilson (Glenavon Hotel) and Jamese McCloy (Glenshane Country Farm).

Personal development also features on the programme, when Alan Lyons, business psychologist and leadership coach, will provide top tips on how to harness your ‘superpower’ (emotional intelligence) to use and manage emotions to communicate effectively, and developing a clear vision of yourself and your core values is the subject of a ‘personal branding’ event being delivered by Caroline O’Neill and Naomh McElhatton which brings the week to a close.

Launching Enterprise Week 2021, Councillor Paul McLean, Chair of the Council, said:

“The last 18 months have proven to be an extremely tough trading environment for the vast majority of our business sectors.

As we move towards recovery, our focus in this year’s Enterprise Week is deliberately forward-looking and positive, showcasing some of the very many success stories of our established, home-grown enterprises as well as our entrepreneurs.”

“The programme spans manufacturing, tourism, hospitality, retail and the service sectors and is designed to spark ideas, greater creative thinking about how we continue to do business in a post-pandemic context.”

“I’m looking forward to attending – and to bringing back some of the learning into my own working life. I have no doubt our businesses from across the spectrum will do the same”.

Darragh Cullen, MD of EDGE Innovate, who is participating in one of the events said: “Mid Ulster Enterprise Week is delivering a packed programme – whether you’re looking for advice on how to become a more effective leader, manage your team better or become more adept at negotiating or using social media, Mid Ulster Enterprise week has it covered.

“I’m delighted to be a part of this week and am looking forward to sharing my story at the Thursday morning event and hearing from the others along with me. I’d encourage Mid Ulster businesses to check out the week’s events and get registered for a few webinars.”

Sammy Jo Dickson, proprietor of 14th Avenue, Dungannon commented:

“This programme is really varied, covering a lot in a few days and it’s great to see some well-known businesses from Mid Ulster involved as well. I’m hoping to hear some useful tips from Mags on the Magic of Retail webinar.”

Enterprise Week runs from Monday 8 November to Friday 12 November. All events are virtual and free to attend. If you attend any webinar your name will go forward into a prize draw.