Innovation is key
by George Fleming , president of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce
D
erry is blessed with some of Northern Ireland ’ s most entrepreneurial and innovative companies . The annual business awards from the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and the City Centre Initiative have recognised some of the best examples of these , including in recent years AE Global , Learning Pool and Airporter .
My priority in my year as President of the Londonderry Chamber is to promote the spirit of enterprise even more . But enterprise doesn ’ t just happen .
New businesses evolve through a process that will typically include an idea , confidence , skills , finance , premises , market access – and also often rather a lot of mentoring from people who have been there and done it .
The ingredients of a successful company are a lot more than the glib economic text book references to ‘ land , labour , capital and enterprise ’.
Our Chamber of Commerce understands what new businesses need – but also what we need to do to help build our local economy .
Consequently , when the Chamber recently moved into new city centre premises we included within our offices an ‘ Innovation Hub ’, providing incubation space for young companies .
We have done this in conjunction with our landlords , the Inner City Trust itself a not for profit business that helps regenerate not only the physical aspects of Derry , but also its social and economic heart .
Helen Quigley , the chief executive of the Inner City Trust , says that support for the Innovation Hub is just part of its commitment to strengthening the local economy .
“ Down through the years , the Inner City Trust has consistently helped small businesses in the city by putting infrastructure in place to support growth ,” she explains .
“ In conjunction with Derry City and Strabane District Council , we also offer a wraparound service for resident designers in the fashion and textile centre and incubation space to young creatives .
“ Similarly , the Innovation Hub is the latest venture partnership with Londonderry Chamber of Commerce . By providing space and creating a user friendly environment , we will encourage individuals to test ideas , develop them and hopefully bring them to fruition .
“ We aim to nurture creativity and to build confidence by putting the necessary measures in place to stimulate development . For so many entrepreneurs , there is a very fine line between success and failure . We seek to narrow that gap , to ensure people with good ideas are not deterred from ‘ having a go ’ or trying again .
“ Working in partnership with the Chamber extends the Trust ’ s reach across business sectors and to people of all ages .
“ Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy and the Innovation Hub will offer a supportive and confidential space for creativity to flourish and ideas to become reality .”
The first occupant of the Innovation Hub is a young startup provider of mobile apps , Scattr . “ Scattr works like pass the parcel on the mobile phone ,” explains one of its app developers , Luke Harkin .
“ Businesses promote themselves by giving away chances to win something from them – which can be , for example , meals , activity sessions or gift vouchers .
“ But first the users have to watch the business ’ s ten seconds ad . Win or lose , the user can then pass on the chance to win to their friends they think will be interested .”
The business ’ s marketing executive Eimear Gillen adds : “ Scattr encompasses viral , targeted marketing through a highly engaging advertising platform .
“ What makes Scattr unique is that it ’ s free for users to join and engage with their favourite brands .
“ For businesses , it ’ s a fresh idea , a different approach and a new avenue that enables them to promote themselves to new and existing customers .”
In Scattr ’ s first half year of trading , it signedup more than 50 registered businesses , played more than 360 hours of ten seconds ads to punters , who between them won 264 prizes .
Registered businesses include many of Derry ’ s largest consumerfacing companies . With much of that local sector signedup , helped by Chamber contacts , Scattr is now expanding its reach across the whole of Ireland and the UK .
All five staff at Scattr are under 25 and engaged in their first business venture .
“ It ’ s important for us to take risks ourselves , we ’ re learning and you need to try things out to know what works ,” explains Scattr CEO Megan Canavan .
“ It ’ s been a huge advantage having the Chamber there when we need an extra bit of advice ”.
But the Innovation Hub is just one example of the Chamber ’ s focus on entrepreneurship .
We also have a monthly Entrepreneurship in Action programme , through which Chamber members visit our most successful local businesses .
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Our Chamber of Commerce remains focused on our core purpose , which is to provide services to our members . But through our activities to promote entrepreneurship we are helping to create a new generation of enterprises and businesses .
The leaders of these companies are happy to pass on what they have learnt , sharing knowledge , expertise and tips to younger firms .
These are local businesses that started small but have grown large – Learning Pool , Airporter , AE Global and my own firm Fleming Agri have all hosted visits . Businesses that have attended the events have described them as inspirational , with every visit fully booked .
The North West Regional College and Ulster University ’ s Magee campus are also actively engaged with the Entrepreneurship in Action programme in conjunction with the Chamber by providing training and education to support and develop local businesses . Our Chamber of Commerce remains focused on our core purpose , which is to provide services to our members . But through our activities to promote entrepreneurship we are helping to create a new generation of enterprises and businesses .
That will boost economic activity in the city and region , strengthening all local firms and other stakeholders . If it also produces a new generation of Chamber members , then that is an added , welcome , bonus .
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