PLATO SME Advanced Business Development Program
Would you like to be part of a results driven environment? Like being surrounded by experienced business owners working with you to succeed?
The PLATO SME Advanced Business Development Programme from SME Matters has been running since 2005. Each year, twelve owner managers from a cross sector of the Irish economy come together on six and twelve month programmes that focus on developing the knowledge and skills of the owner manager themselves.
Over the programme, owner managers are immersed in the world of leadership, operational excellence, business and strategic planning, sales and marketing, communication and performance management. Each month, challenges are set for the owner manager through specifically designed exercises that significantly improve the workings of their business.
Complete support is provided through mentoring and tailored workshop to ensure that each participant gets the most out of each aspect of the programme.
PLATO SME Advanced Business Development Programme
Date: January – June 2012 (six month programme)
Venue: Sandymount Hotel, Sandymount, Dublin 4
Cost: €1250 (subsidised from €2300). Prior booking is advised.
To book a place, please email bookings@smematters.ie or dublin@plato.ie or by phone at 086 – 2699111.
This training is suitable to owner managers:
- Who want to reinvigorate their business
- Who want to set goals to further develop their leadership skills
- Who want their company to focus on operational excellence
- Who want new business development strategies and techniques
- Who want to increase their ability to maintain and generate sales
- Who want performance management at the heart of their enterprise
- Who want to share the highs and lows they face in running an SME with like-minded business owners
Topics covered include:
- Six monthly interactive meetings focusing on leadership and operational excellence
- Two full day workshops focused on developing new Sales and Marketing skills specific to SME owner managers
- Two full day workshops on Strategic Business Planning for a business
- Step-by-step exercises that will transform how a company is run and generate new business
- High profile guest speakers from the business community
- Group dynamics in problem solving for participating businesses
- Complete confidentiality
This programme is proven to increase sales and productivity in your business through focusing on the owner managers leadership skills and provides participants with a framework for achieving operational excellence.
About Damien O’Brien
Damien is a recognised business expert that specialises in developing the knowledge and skills of owner managers and giving them the tools to transform their business in terms of bottom line growth and business and personal satisfaction. Damien has a high energy motivational manner that drives owner managers to work on their business. His experience ranges across all sectors of the economy and he brings that experience to bear in the programs he teaches and in the one-to-one time spent with owner managers to maximise their businesses and personal potential.
Prior to setting up SME Matters, Damien spent ten years in industry, holding senior management roles at national and international level. He has managed quadruple growth figures in sales during his time as Sales Manager for an Irish telecom multinational and went on to grow their specialised consulting department thereafter. Damien has lectured in Smurfit Graduate School of Business on Organisational Renewal in SMEs and runs SME company clinics for program participants in conjunction with Smurfit. He also runs high impact seminars and full-day training events nationwide.
SME Matters specialises in developing and delivering expert, practical relevant programmes for Irish SMEs which deliver bottom line growth and increased market share. We aim to inspire and educate SME owner managers and give them in-depth support and access to like minded dynamic business people.
If you are interested in getting involved in upcoming owner manager programmes, please contact damien.obrien@smematters.ie.