Bank of Ireland UK gives local companies the opportunity to ‘Show Your Business’

15 May 2015

Bank throws open its doors to provide businesses with high street presence

Today, (Friday 15th May, 2015) Bank of Ireland UK’s Enterprise Week gets underway with a packed programme of nearly forty events including inspirational seminars from local business leaders, networking opportunities, business clinics and the bank’s unique Show Your Business scheme.

For Show Your Business, Bank of Ireland UK opens its 36 branches to both customers and non-customers alike to invite them to showcase their goods and services on the high street to help promote their business to the local market.

Bank of Ireland has 286 branches across the island of Ireland and they are putting all of them at the disposal of businesses interested in showcasing their business, at no cost to them.   Local businesses have the opportunity to use branches in the South to promote their company while businesses from the Republic of Ireland are able to head to Northern Ireland, providing a unique opportunity for those companies with ambitions to increase their footprint in a new market.

Peter Dunlop, Managing Director of Bath Shack, an online bathroom store, is just one of the bank’s customers who will take advantage of Show Your Business.  Peter founded the business in 2009 in shared premises and now employs 15 people across his website and the four showrooms he has across Ballymena, Belfast and two in Cork.

He says: “We’re a young business with showrooms in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and we want to grow our business on both sides of the border. Show Your Business is a fantastic opportunity to drive the promotion of our products in each respective market and to talk to potential customers about what products and services we offer.”

Sean Sheehan, Regional Director, Northern Ireland Consumer and Small Business, Bank of Ireland UK said: “Our theme this week is ‘Let’s Connect’ and making connections is exactly what Enterprise Week in general and Show Your Business in particular is all about, connecting businesses to new markets, to new customers, and new opportunities.

“Enterprise Week remains the blueprint for engaging with SMEs and continues to offer a means of connecting this vital sector with practical and relevant support and delivering real benefits to businesses who take part.”

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#LetsConnectNI

For more information head to bankofireland.co.uk/business 

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Media contact

Catherine Agnew at Smarts Communicate

T: 028 9039 5500

M: 07779101360

E: Catherine.agnew@smartscommunicate.com

Highlights of Bank of Ireland UK’s Enterprise Week events include:

  • ‘Meet the Buyer’ Event, Tuesday  12th May, (9.30am-2.00pm) Armagh City Hotel – speakers will include  Sandra Scannell, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Sean Sheehan,  Regional Director, NI Consumer and Small Business, Bank of Ireland UK
  • Networking event at Eddie Irvine’s premises with customers/intermediaries complete with go-karting! May 15th, 2015
  • Business Breakfast, Tuesday 19th May, (8.00am-9.30am) Kingspan Stadium, Belfast – speaker – Alan Bridle, UK Economist, Bank of Ireland UK  on the ‘Post election  economic implications on Northern Ireland’
  • ‘Let’s Connect for Growth’, Westville Hotel, Enniskillen, Wednesday 20th May, 2015 12 -1.30pm – speakers include, Alan Bridle, UK Economist, Bank of Ireland UK , Arlene Foster, Minister for Enterprise trade and Investment, Michael Beare, MD, Finn Lough
  • ‘Lunch & Learn’ session with graduates at Kainos, May 20th, 2015
  • Lisburn Business Clinic ‘Let’s Connect for Growth “ – Meet the Experts, Lagan Valley Island , Lisburn, Thursday 21st May 12 – 2.00pm speakers  Hazel King, Economic Development Manager, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council – Support for local business through the new council. P2V Systems Ltd– Advancements and outlook in IT sector. Paddy Rooney, Business Adviser, Lisburn, Bank of Ireland UK- Access to Finance. Les Walker– Bank of Ireland Global Markets- Managing currency risk for your Business. Theresa Donaldson, CEO, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council
  • Digital Focus Day, Belfast City Branch, May 21st, 2015
  • “How Agri can be Enterprising” – Launch Breakfast, Ballymena Show, Ballymena Show grounds , Friday 29th May 8.30am – 10.00am speakers include William Thompson, Agriculture Manager, Bank of Ireland UK, Ian Paisley, MP North Antrim, Robert Dick, Chair of Ballymena Show with Show Your Business in the Show Marquee.
  • Let’s Connect for Growth through Social Media, Omagh Enterprise Company, Friday 15th May, 08.30 – 10.00am with speakers Nicholas O’Shiel, Chief Executive, Omagh Enterprise Company and Bill McCartney, Social Media Specialist, along with two case studies; Gareth O’Shea, Gortrush Trading Services and Shauna McCarney, Heavenly Tasting Organics
  • “Entrepreneurship in action” Legenderry Brewing Company, Ebrington Square, Derry/Londonderry, Thursday 21st May 4.30pm – 6.00pmwith speakers Peter Casey, RTE Dragon and CEO and Founder of Claddagh Resources, with James Huey, Legenderry Brewing Company and Eugene Kearney,  Commercial Manage, Bank of Ireland UK