Micheál Martin Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment at BRITE Launch

In 2005, the DLR County Enterprise Board conducted a comprehensive review and customer feedback process amongst Micro Enterprises and SME’s within the Technology and ICT sector to identify and respond to training and development needs that would support growth of these companies.

Research identified that obvious gaps existed across a variety of vital business skills in the ICT sector. Whilst companies had technical expertise in terms of product and service delivery, many admitted to be lacking the skills required to grow and manage their business. The BRITE Programme was developed to close this gap of skills and innovatively, the programme is accessible as a joint approach across the four Dublin Enterprise boards of Dun Laoighaire Rathdown, Fingal, South Dublin and Dublin City. The programme aims to establish a self-sustaining network of technology companies in the greater Dublin Region and in support of that will provide ongoing training and development opportunities to its members. A unique aspect of the programme developed as a result of this feedback is the support offered by Major Technology companies such as VODAFONE and IBM who have committed to a diffusion of their know how and expertise to assist in the growth of the smaller technology Enterprises. The programme is also in advanced stages of confirming links with 2 other partner companies from South Dublin and Dublin City Enterprise Board areas. A number of initiatives which will be rolled out over 2007/2008 include; 1 Professional training programmes which will enhance business skills including; Managing an SME, Business Planning and Growth, Sales, Strategic Planning, Finance and Marketing. This training will be accredited by FETAC or ILM. 2 Participant feedback suggested there was a clear interest in networking and developing opportunities to exchange idea’s and best practices; networking within the group is facilitating this and joint partnerships with industry partners such as IBM and Vodafone have been established to compliment this action further 3 Companies identified the need for exposure to expertise knowledge and advice and to facilitate this each individual has been matched to a business mentor with specific expertise to tackle company needs as identified by the companies themselves Strongly supported by the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Enterprise board; Michael Johnson CEO commented “Operating in such a rapidly advancing Sector, retention of a competitive edge is becoming ever more difficult. Unless companies work continuously at renewing what they offer and using innovation as a key competitive advantage, there is less chance of survival in today’s turbulent environment which is why we have lent our complete support to BRITE’s 2007 programme”. Presently, it is already identifiable that bonding and networking among the group is having an effect. The current member companies are exchanging best practice, skills and business models that can be applied to their long term strategy development and developing their business model further. The companies are also finding affinity with each other which could possibly result in joint processes or products being developed for the domestic and export markets. For further information on the programme please log onto www.brite.ie. - BRITE is funded by the European Social Fund and the National Development Plan and coordinated by Accel (which falls under the remit of the Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment). - The BRITE Programme is a two year schedule of one-to-one mentoring, business networking and business skills training. In addition to classroom training, there are networking events, input from industry leaders and the opportunity to learn from the experience of many other people. - The average company that has joined the program is a small owner/manager with around 3 employees or a collective of professionals who have started their own business and are forming the management core of their company with long term objectives of growth, hiring staff and exploring overseas marketplaces.

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