BANK OF IRELAND UK LAUNCHES 4th ENTERPRISE WEEK
18th – 25th November 2011
Bank of Ireland UK, today, 31st October 2011, launched its fourth Enterprise Week in Northern Ireland. This popular initiative will feature seminars and showcasing opportunities for business owners and will take place across all Bank of Ireland UK branches from Friday 18th November – Friday 25th November 2011. The week, which is open to both customers and non-customers, is being held as part of the Bank’s ongoing commitment to actively support businesses in the community by providing them with the necessary financial support and practical advice.
Two key customer initiatives will take place this year, including a flagship Agri-Food seminar along with the hugely successful Show Your Business in branches. The seminar will feature presentations from local retailers and producers who will provide their vision for the future of Agri-Food in Northern Ireland.
The ever popular Show Your Business in branches will feature a variety of SMEs including many agri-related businesses such as Ards Allotments, Heavenly Tasty Organics, Mash Direct, and Barley Cove Artisan Bakery. Bank of Ireland is encouraging all SMEs to get involved and contact their local branch for further information.
Michael Kidd, Head of Business Banking, Bank of Ireland UK, commented: “We are delighted to announce our fourth Enterprise Week. Enterprise Week is about Bank of Ireland UK reaching out to entrepreneurs and encouraging them to promote their business in their local communities as well as to meet and connect with other businesses in the area. Over 1700 businesses have taken part in the initiative since we launched it in May 2010.”
Michael added: “Northern Ireland remains a core franchise for us. We have local branches throughout the region, with business managers who are actively seeking to lend to viable businesses and they are supported by a team of people vastly experienced in business banking. Our commitment to the SME sector remains steadfast. Over the past 12 months our approval rate has remained consistent at over 90%.”
Pat Byrne, Regional Manager, Northern Ireland commented: “For many people the heart and soul of Enterprise Week is the Show Your Business element which gives businesses, both customers and non-customers, a platform to promote their products and services in branches and to network with other businesses. There are so many exciting and innovative businesses in Northern Ireland and they each have three things in common – commitment, drive and innovation. The staff in our branches across Northern Ireland will be on hand to offer advice, support and finance to these customers and this year we expect even more businesses to get involved and we are determined to make it the best Show Your Business yet.”
Ards Allotments, the award winning allotments business from Newtownards, County Down is one of the businesses showcasing its products in Bank of Ireland City Branch during Enterprise Week. The business was established in 2006 and has been a customer of Bank of Ireland UK for the last five years. They opened their account with Bank of Ireland UK because of the personal service they received which ‘went the extra mile’.
Maurice Patton, the owner of Ards Allotments, said: “After running a successful farm for twenty five years we diversified our farming enterprise and decided to develop allotments. We started with just a handful of members and now have close to fifty allotments on our land with room to grow for up to two hundred plots. Enterprise Week with Bank of Ireland UK gives us a great opportunity to showcase our business in a central location in the heart of Belfast and provides us with the perfect platform to reach as many budding gardeners and potential customers as possible.”
For the most up to date information on events taking place across the country during Enterprise Week log on to www.allaboutbusiness.org.uk or contact your local branch.
Ends