DERRY City and Strabane District Council has this week launched a range of initiatives designed to support local businesses affected by the challenges presented by the ongoing Coronavirus emergency.
With new regulations that will see the closure of many local businesses coming into force today, Council is encouraging local companies to explore their options in terms of establishing an online presence and adapting to conditions as best they can to continue the delivery of products and services.
As well as a special Business Resilience Programme, a series of remote skills development workshops has been announced to give people the support and information they need. The series will comprise of 8-10 two hour workshops to be delivered remotely via Zoom, which will be open to all members of the business community in the City and
District including past and present participants of the Business Boost Programme.
Focus areas include managing stress, gearing up to sell on YouTube, the impact of COVID19 on local business, and good leadership.
Companies can also apply for a place on the Business Online Programme, part of the highly successful Business Boost Programme, now open to micro enterprises and SMEs across Derry and Strabane.
The programme will assist local companies in going digital. Keeping in mind the challenges presented by the current restrictions around social distancing in the workplace it’s more important than ever that businesses establish an effective online presence for both staff and customers.
This programme will also be delivered remotely and safely, using all modern technologies.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Michaela Boyle, urged companies to sign up. “While I welcome these new restrictions on people’s movements, I appreciate that this will have a serious impact on local companies and their ability to do business,” she stressed.
“As a Council we are putting in place as many measures as we can to support local businesses at this very difficult time.
“This new series of workshops will provide the latest information on digital technology and how businesses can take their products and services online and support staff working from home. I would really encourage businesses to find out more about what help is available.”
Business Support Manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Louise Breslin, said: “With social distancing being a key factor for everyone – your staff, your customers and your suppliers – it’s vitally important that businesses introduce new ways of working.
“These are uncertain times and we want to help businesses adapt in whatever ways they can, and both the workshops and the mentoring opportunities will provide the advice and expertise to help local companies get up and running online as quickly as possible.”
To register, simply contact Jacqui at Full Circle – jacqui@fullcircle.eu.com to express your interest in the workshops.
The deadline for submission of expressions of interest is Thursday 9 April @ 12noon.
The Programmes are part-funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council, Invest NI and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Jobs and Growth [2014 – 2020] Programme.
