31 May 2000
SIR REG EMPEY ANNOUNCES NEW HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
"Good business ideas can be so easily stifled and lost if there is not the immediate back up and support needed to tease out and develop them," Sir Reg Empey, MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, said today.
The Minister was speaking at the Waterfront Hall at the launch of two new LEDU business programmes designed to help high-tech start-up businesses.
"To make good ideas work, we need to give quick decisions backed with immediate funding if they are to become viable and both the Enterprise Excellence Programme and Fast Forward Finance will help address these needs.
"E-commerce, bio and health technologies, software development and electronics have faced a revolution over recent years and this has had a huge impact on the small business sector.
"In this fast moving world, we must help our businesses put their ideas into action by speeding up the process so that they become established ahead of the competition which is so vitally important.
"Strategy 2010 recommends that entrepreneurs should be encouraged to release and develop their abilities in order to create a more dynamic and prosperous economy. Supporting our most talented and ensuring that they can, in time, contribute fully to Northern Ireland's wealth creating sectors is high priority for Government.
"The nature and culture of business is changing on all fronts and we must constantly revue how we help support and inspire a modern enterprise society.
"But firms will only succeed if they develop distinct and innovative products. New approaches are required, including organisational change, enhancement of skills, linkages with other companies and closer ties with educational and research institutions.
"The recently launched Leapfrog initiative has been established to accelerate progress in these areas and one of its key aims is the rapid growth of the new technology sector through channels of business start-up, indigenous company growth and inward investment.
"The LEDU initiative being launched here today will help deliver this aim and hopefully bring forward many more businesses like McMullan who features in the current TV advertising campaign."
NOTE TO EDITORS:
For further information on the Enterprise Excellence Programme and Fast Forward Finance please refer to the LEDU press release "Turning the Spotlight on Technology dated 31st May or contact Judith Edmiston, LEDU Corporate Marketing Department, Tel: 028 9049 1031 Fax: 028 9055 9205 or email: judith.edmiston@ledu-ni.gov.uk or click on to the Website: www.ledu-ni.gov.uk