Fire up your business potential with council’s new business support programme

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (MEABC) have launched an exciting new support programme to businesses in the borough who are in their early stage of development.

‘Spark’ will provide specialist mentoring support, tailored to individual client needs.

Launching the scheme, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor William McCaughey, said:

“The Spark Programme addresses a gap in ‘early stage’ support between Go For It and our suite of Business Growth interventions.

“There is a pressing need to support and assist new businesses and Social Enterprises as they navigate and thrive in the changing business environment resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and other economic influences.”

Andrea Bohar, founder of Green Finger’s Family in Larne, took part in Council’s previous early stage business mentoring programme in 2020. She accessed tailored advice and mentoring when she decided to take her family business to the next level.

Andrea said: “Access to the mentoring programme was easy and straightforward. After an initial meeting with the council my needs and business direction were clearly identified and I was paired with a mentor who provided me with valuable guidance on marketing my products and securing contracts with suppliers.”

Through completion of the programme, Andrea was able to access further support through MEA’s Digital Boost and Business Escalator+ Programmes.

Two of Andrea’s granolas have won UK Great Taste Awards, one being the finalist in this year’s Blas na hEireann, The Irish Food Awards. The business has also won MEABC’s the Silver Level Innovator Award for the commitment to eco-friendly packaging.

Spark will offer specialist tailored mentoring support to businesses on a number of valuable areas including Start up support, Establishing social enterprise, Financial Management, Innovation Support, Sales and Marketing and Website development.

To find out more about Spark please visit www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/sparkwhere you can register your interest and a member of the team will be on touch to discuss your requirements. You can also email amplify@midandeastantrim.gov.uk or phone 028 2563 3363.