The Local Enterprise Offices in Westmeath, Offaly, Longford and Laois recently announced rolling out of a new programme to help ambitious engineering business grow their enterprises. The Engenuity Midlands Innovation Programme, supported by WestBIC and Almir, provides sector specific professional training, tailored mentoring & action planning, networking & collaboration opportunities to deliver growth objectives of participant companies.
A tailored support package, commencing today on 21 June 2017, will be provided to 20 Midlands-based engineering enterprises that have ambitions and potential to grow, with benefits including:
- 4 workshops focused on developing technology transfer/innovation opportunities, key approaches to embrace technology & lean processing, servitisation as a game changer for engineering companies and developing export markets
- Individual, tailored mentoring & action plans for growth
- Inclusion in the regional subcontract and collaboration opportunities database
- Participation the Midlands Engineering Network and participation at network events
- Participation at a Meet the Buyer Event
- Signposting of further support services to facilitate innovation and growth potential.
The Engenuity Programme also foresees establishment of an energised Midlands Engineering Network which will act as an exchange forum and cohesive network for members to build links, share experience and undertake joint commercial activity. The network had its soft launch at the Life Sciences and Engineering Expo that took place in Mullingar on 15th& 16thJune and it was supported by 2 participant companies of the Engenuity programme: Midland Industrial Maintenance and Strikebox Engineering, both based in Westmeath.
Other participating companies from Westmeath include Sercheck, Scantech Geoscience, Donal Murtagh Mobility and RMIS Engineering. Longford based participant companies include Waterjet profiles, Dynamic Conrol Solutions and Mervyn Green Engineering and from Laois Meredith Engineering, Pipefab, Crean Engineering and Stanley Engineering. Participating companies from Offaly include Coughlan Engineering, Applied Concepts, DTS, Shamrock Rollers, Gorry Stainless Steel and BK Steel Fabrication.
The Midlands Engineering Network will include events to share expertise and best practice based around specific topics, facilitate guest speakers, member presentations, workshops and networking (physical and virtual) so that companies can learn from each other and access support from peers and stakeholder organisations.
It is envisaged that the network will, in addition to engaging with the midlands-based engineering SMEs, also integrate the corporate, as well as the local knowledge sector e.g. AIT’s Centre for Industrial Services and Design (CISD), Midlands Manufacturing Technologies Campus (MMTC), the DesignHub and others.
To join the network today, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8611489
The Engenuity Programme is an integral part of the structured effort to promote market-led innovation, stakeholder collaboration, ‘best practice’ transfer and product and trade development among the Midlands Engineering Cluster. The project is part of the Regional Action Plan for Jobs and is funded under the LEO Competitive Fund, delivered by Westmeath, Offaly, Longford & Laois Local Enterprise Offices in association with WestBIC, Almir Business and other enterprise and innovation stakeholders.
Originally published at www.westbic.ie on June 23, 2017.
