He has completed a Foundation Degree in Industrial Electronic/Electrical Engineering at South West College, and has worked for Axon Power and Control, Norbrook Pharmaceuticals, Moteam Automation and AW Control systems.

Darren’s expertise lies within Control Panel design and PLC programming.

He graduated from the University of the West of England in June 2011 with 2:1 in Motorsport Engineering(BEng). Previous to that he attended South West College in Omagh, graduating in 2008 with a Triple Distinction in B-Tec National Diploma in Engineering and a Distinction in B-Tec National Award in Motorsport Technology.

Since graduation he has been involved with South West College firstly as a part-time engineering lecturer at the Omagh campus and now as an Industrial Training and Technology Associate with The InnoTech Centre.

Kathryn was previously employed as a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Officer with Derry City Council.  Her role involved working on a Big Lottery Project in Community Planning, developing a web-based map viewer of public services available in the Derry City and Strabane District council areas. 

She graduated from University of Ulster, Coleraine with a BSc Honours in Geography and a Masters in Geographic Information Systems.  Throughout her education and career, Kathryn has become experienced in working with ArcMap and MapInfo.

The award, sponsored by Tughans ,was presented to SWC’s Aaron Black by Action Renewables’ Michael Doran and Tughans’ Andrew Ryan. The award recognises the contribution SWC has made to the renewable energy sector over a long number of years and the commitment the college has made to its development. Speaking at the event, Aaron Black said “This award recognises the work carried out in a wide range of areas within the college from our innovation centre staff, curriculum teams and management. The college has shown strong commitment to the industry for almost a decade now and continues to look positively to the future of new energy technology with innovative new projects and curriculum”.

With developments such as biomass heating for it’s campuses in Omagh and Enniskillen, a developing biomass district heating scheme in conjunction with Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, Anaerobic Digestion facility and wind turbine training tower & nacelle, the college is now leading the way in the renewables sector. Within its InnoTech Centre, the college has now completed some 75 industrial Research and Development projects in the area of renewable energy technology and is now providing this work locally, nationally and internationally.

As well as recognising it’s national work, the award acknowledges the colleges International reputation which now spans from USA to mainland Europe in a wide range of disciplines from wind to solar and biomass with graduates gaining employment in international industry.

The significant achievement of this prestigious award has placed SWC in a strong position and gives confidence moving forward to new areas of Research & Development, demonstration and curriculum within the Renewable Energy sector.

Lisburn City Council’s Economic Development Unit has teamed up with the InnoTech Centre, South West College to develop and implement the Inspire Programme as part of its Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) Development Programme. This Programme is part financed by Lisburn City Council and the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Fund for Northern Ireland.

Inspire is a new programme for budding entrepreneurs, who wish to start up start up and develop an export focused company, that is innovative, and will operate in one of the key market areas identified by the Council as being important for competing on the global stage.
The programme will deliver a targeted local business support initiative aimed at stimulating and increasing the number of new start-up businesses in the City of Lisburn who operate within a number of identified key sectors, known as Lead Markets which include: eHealth, Protective Textiles, Sustainable Construction, Recycling, Bio-based Products, and Renewable Energies.

Alderman Jim Dillon, Chairman of the Council’s Economic Development Committee, commented: “In the current economic climate fast, robust company development is more important than ever. We need innovative companies emerging with big ideas for a global market. Our programme of support has been developed to address the specific needs of globally focused start-up companies around key markets. There is an opportunity to grow, and expand upon the number of businesses based within the knowledge economies in the City of Lisburn and to identify and harness opportunities for new private sector investment and job creation in this sector.”

Inspire will ‘fast-track’ the best business ideas through a tested methodology to ensure the new company is given the best opportunity to tackle their chosen market head on.
The Inspire programme will deliver a series of workshops, which will act as ‘building blocks’ for technical knowledge, awareness and business skills. The workshops have highly relevant content and will guide potential entrepreneurs through the process of developing their business idea. Participants will then have the opportunity to apply for the next stage of the programme which will appoint business mentors to work with the new businesses on a one to one basis. If you are interested in starting your own business in one of these exciting market areas and you feel that you have got what it takes to compete on the world stage then make sure you sign up for the Inspire Programme and take your new venture to the next level.

For further information or if you would like to register for one of the upcoming Inspire workshops please contact Dr John Harrison at South West College on 028 2826 3900 or email john.Harrison@swc.ac.uk

Cookstown Enterprise Centre 
9.00am – 12.00pm
Cost – £25 per person 

Cookstown Enterprise Centre is running a ‘Growing your business during a recession’ seminar delivered by local entrepreneur, Philip Bain, who is the co-founder of on-site shredding company – ShredBank.  The seminar will focus on key areas that all businesses need to address to survive through difficult economic times. The seminar is highly interactive, informative and practical. 
 

Philip is renowned as one of the best speakers on this topic in N.I.  Having recently won entrepreneur of the Year 2010 and Young Businessperson of the Year 2011, we are delighted that Philip has agreed to share his thoughts and experiences on what it takes to start-up, grow and succeed in tough financial times. He will reflect on the importance of marketing, selling, innovation and having a business model that works.
Philip and his business partner James Carson established ShredBank just after the collapse of Northern Rock and the beginning of one of the deepest recessions since the 1930’s.  ShredBank entered a document shredding market dominated by well established multi-nationals and a deteriorating economic climate.  Despite this, under Philip’s commercial leadership ShredBank has become a fast growing multi-award winning company that has experienced high levels of growth year on year and disproved the notion that success in a recession is impossible.
 

Please note that pre-booking is necessary – to book a place contact Karen Cox on 867 63660 or e-mail karenc@cookstownenterprise.com before 9^th March 2012.    
  
  ]]> http://www.theinnotechcentre.com/2012/03/growing-your-business-during-a-recession-seminar/feed/ 0 http://www.theinnotechcentre.com/2012/03/need-help-to-submit-your-vat-returns-online/ http://www.theinnotechcentre.com/2012/03/need-help-to-submit-your-vat-returns-online/#comments Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:57:02 +0000 Chris http://www.theinnotechcentre.com/?p=1858 If you are a small business and haven’t yet taken the step of submitting your VAT online you may be interested in a short course to help you take the first step.  Courses will take place at South West College Cookstown Campus on the following dates:

Tuesday                      20 March 2012                       10:00 – 11:30

                                                                                    7:00 – 8:30 pm

Wednesday                21 March 2012                       15:15 – 16:45

                                                                                    7:00 – 8:30 pm

The cost                      £25.00 per head

Places on each course will be limited to 6 so early registration is vital. 

For more information contact Joanne Lucas on joanne.lucas@swc.ac.uk or 0845 603 1881 ext 4208

Pictured launching the NI Check IN app at Todds Leap in Ballygawley are, (left), Catherine Morris from the South West College, Olive Hill, Invest NI, and Gemma Begley of Todd’s Leap.

Picture by Harrison Photography

Pictured launching the NI Check IN app at Todds Leap in Ballygawley are, (left), Catherine Morris from the South West College, Olive Hill, Invest NI, and Gemma Begley of Todd’s Leap.

Four leisure businesses in the Sperrins have been assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to embrace mobile communications technology that could help in attracting tourists expected to visit Northern Ireland as part of the NI2012 Our Time Our Place campaign.

The companies – Todd’s Leap, Ballygawley, An Creagan, near Omagh, Barrontop Fun Farm, Donemana, and The Jungle, Moneymore – pooled individual Invest NI Innovation Vouchers to develop NI Check IN, a smartphone app, with the help of the technology team at the South West College in Omagh.

The new app, which can be used on Apple’s iPhones, makes it easier to access the wide range of leisure and activity facilities of the four Tyrone businesses. The NI Check IN app links to mini sites that detail the opportunities and special deals for tourists and local visitors. At the moment it links to the four partners, but in the near future it will link to all subscribing tourism companies.

The app, launched by Gemma Begley of Todd’s Leap and Catherine Morris from the South West College, was welcomed by Olive Hill, Invest NI’s Director of Technology and Process Development.

Mrs Hill said: “This is a unique and imaginative development for us; it is a good example of how a number of small companies can work collaboratively to solve a common business issue leading to a technology project that should bring substantial benefits to all the partners.

“The new app is designed to increase awareness of the comprehensive range of leisure and activity facilities that are now readily available in the Sperrins. A key target for them will be the thousands of additional tourists expected to visit Northern Ireland this year for events surrounding the Titanic Festival in Belfast, the Irish Open in Portrush and during 2013 when Londonderry will be the UK City of Culture and will also host the all-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil.

“This is the type of initiative which the Innovation Voucher scheme is designed to encourage. The companies were able to link up with the South West College to develop what has turned out to be a very attractive and user-friendly mobile website that can be used for information and for booking facilities at the four businesses.”

Todd’s Leap Marketing Coordinator Gemma Begley, one of the project leads, said: “We see the app as an innovative way to increase our tourism and leisure revenue by harnessing the immense potential of the latest interactive technology.

“While we aim to continue to appeal to local families and corporate clients, a key objective for us will be to attract many more tourists from Belfast and Derry, especially over the next two years, to visit the Sperrins and to experience and enjoy the unique facilities and services that we offer.

“We are keen to ensure that Tyrone also benefits from tourism campaigns over the next few years and continues to appeal to visitors, from both home and abroad, well into the future.

“Increasing awareness and interest should help to increase sales at our four sites, in both short and long terms, and also in other parts of the Sperrins.

“The app also features a facility that enables us to alert existing and potential customers about special offers and new attractions.”

Catherine Morris, South West College’s Curriculum Project Officer in Digital Media, said: “It has been a great experience working with such innovative and forward thinking businesses, who are really taking a proactive approach to issues which the majority of leisure companies are facing. South West College is very proud to have completed the work on Northern Ireland’s first pooled Innovation Voucher, having worked on over 90 individual Vouchers through the Innotech Centre, in Cookstown.”

Kieran McPeake, Managing Director, Northern Farm Supplies, demonstrating the new collapsible cow cubicle to Claire Herron, Invest NI Manager of Innovation Vouchers.

Kieran McPeake, Managing Director, Northern Farm Supplies, demonstrating the new collapsible cow cubicle to Claire Herron, Invest NI Manager of Innovation Vouchers.

Toomebridge-based Northern Farm Supplies has been assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to design and manufacture a radically new cubicle that’s more comfortable for cows.

The cubicle, which features a flexible cantilever design, is easy to install, adjust, clean and offers cows more room.

Managing director Kieran McPeake used an Invest NI Innovation Voucher to turn the idea for a new type of collapsible cow cubicle into a product which is now being used successfully on local farms. Northern Farm Supplies specialises in rubber matting and other farm products.

The new product was announced by Mr McPeake, who has experience over 25 years in farming, and welcomed by Claire Herron, Manager of the Innovation Voucher Programme, during a visit to one of the first farms in Northern Ireland to install the innovative cubicle.

Mrs Herron said: “The new cubicle is an excellent example of how smaller businesses can use the Innovation Voucher scheme to turn ideas into products for local farms and also for export to Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

“Northern Farm Supplies used the voucher to access the knowledge and expertise of the Innotech Centre at the South West Further Education College in Cookstown to help with design, engineering and stress testing of the cubicle. What they did was to provide expert skills which helped to transform a good idea into an innovative product which is now well on the way to becoming a commercial success.

“The voucher, which also enabled Northern Farm Supplies to access expert advice and guidance from one of our innovation advisers, is an excellent example of how we can help a business in a traditional industry to diversify and thereby enhance its competitiveness here and to expand into new markets outside Northern Ireland.”

Mr McPeake said: “I found the Innovation Voucher scheme excellent because it enabled me to access highly practical support from Innotech in Cookstown to turn a project I had been thinking about for some time into a fully fledged product.

“The cubicle is different from many on the market because it offers unique features including ease of assembly and installation. While the cubicle is made from galvanised steel, the design enables it to be provided flat-packed for easier transport and adjustment. It can be retro-fitted to existing farms and is sufficiently flexible to fit any building.

“Other important features of the cubicle include greater room for cows and easier access and exit for the animals. If a cow becomes stuck in the cubicle, it has to be dismantled quickly and thereby avoids the animal becoming distressed and perhaps injuring itself.

“Experience from the farms which are now using the cubicle is that it makes life easier for farmers and means happier and healthier cows,” added Mr McPeake.

Photo of Chris McQueen (SME Programme Manager, South West College), Mayor of Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council Councillor Kenneth Reid, Pauline Gallagher, (Economic Development Unit, Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council), and Tom Givans (Dungannon Window Company). Photo Michael Cullen.

Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council’s Economic Development Unit has again teamed up with the InnoTech Centre, South West College to develop and implement the SME Innovation Programme. This Programme is part financed by Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council and the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Fund for Northern Ireland.  

Following the success of the first phase of the SME Innovation Programme, South West College’s InnoTech Centre is delighted to announce the launch of the programme again..  

Through the delivery of the SME Innovation Programme, the InnoTech Centre aims to enhance small businesses’ competitive advantage within the Borough making changes with a positive effect relating to product innovation, process development, and business improvement techniques. The programme focuses on micro / small businesses that are either not yet Invest NI clients or are non-active Invest NI clients.  

Mayor of Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council Councillor Kenneth Reid encourages local businesses to consider participation in the programme he added “It is an excellent opportunity to address key business issues though innovation and is free to all successful applicant SMEs’”  

Tom Givans, Director of Dungannon Window Company found participation beneficial and says “It was great to receive support with the redesign of one of our products, and even to get advice on patents. We enjoyed working with the InnoTech Centre, it was a great help to have accessed a funded programme designed for local companies during this economic downturn”  

Dr Jill Cush, South West College InnoTech Centre Manager says “We are pleased to be able to offer assistance at no cost to small companies in these difficult times and looks forward to working with participants across the Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough region”.  

She continues “I fully appreciate that in the competitive marketplace, every little helps. Some examples of assistance covered by the programme include:  

• Develop new ideas / learn how to get concepts down on paper; 
• Development of Innovative ideas or new products.
• Receive Technical support & design support;
• Refine your processes and improve on lean manufacturing;

These examples are only to name but a few areas which could be covered free of charge for participants within the SME Innovation Programme.  We are aiming to place innovation at the core of business development, helping businesses to grow and be more competitive” said Dr Cush.  

For further information on this programme or to express interest, contact Chris Mc Queen on 028 8225 5223 or email chris.mcqueen@swc.ac.uk.  Application forms can also be downloaded here: SME Innovation Programme Application Form. Closing date for applications is 9 March 2012.