Preparations are well underway for the 2nd International Conference on Networks, Learning and Entrepreneurship 2011 at Waterford Institute of Technology.  The theme of the conference is Entrepreneurial Networking and Learning within Regional Economies.  The event will take place on Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th December 2011.  This event will be hosted by Centre for Enterprise Development and Regional Economy (CEDRE), Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland in conjunction with the School of Management and Business, Aberystwyth University, Wales and the Regional Studies Association (RSA).

Continuing the success of the SLNIW conference held in Aberystwyth University, Wales, in 2010, the 2011 conference will provide an international communication forum bringing together academia and industry for discussing the progress made and addressing the challenges faced by micro-enterprises and SMEs to enhance competitiveness, creativity and innovative capacities and capabilities of their organisations to achieve growth and regional economic development.

Building upon existing work on networks, learning and entrepreneurship, the conference will promote interdisciplinary approaches from entrepreneurial networks, learning through networks, entrepreneurial regions, entrepreneurship and regional development, the role of intermediaries in networks and knowledge transfer through networking. Therefore, we invite researchers and practitioners to report on the current state of their entrepreneurial networking projects, share success stories and failures, and discuss promising new ideas, tools and approaches that enable organisations to systematically draw benefit from entrepreneurial networks.

Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) is a university-level institution in the South-East of Ireland with over 10,000 students and 1,000 staff. WIT offers tuition and research programmes in various areas from Higher Certificate to Degree to PhD.  Waterford Institute of Technology has the highest number of students within the Institute of Technology sector, outside of the capital, Dublin, participating at ordinary degree level and above. The Institute also offers unique post doctoral programmes in a number of specialist areas.

The conference will be held in Waterford City, which is known as the capital of the Sunny South East of Ireland and Ireland’s oldest city.  The city’s origin can be traced back to the Viking times with its exciting medieval flavour and riverside bustle.  Waterford City is home to Waterford Crystal, a lifestyle product of exquisite craftsmanship, with its new visitor centre in operation since June 2010.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford city and the surrounding coast and countryside.

Abstract submission deadline: 29th July 2011

Full Paper submission deadline:  2nd September 2011

Regional Studies Association (RSA) Conference Awards

• RSA Best Doctoral Student Paper
• RSA Best Early Career Paper
• RSA Best Established Career Paper Award

Please visit www.slniwconference.org for further details.

Over 20 micro-enterprises and SMEs from West Wales came together on Thursday 12^th May in the Tower Hotel, Waterford to develop new business opportunities with over 20 similar businesses from South East Ireland.

The Business Network Showcase event, which was hosted by Sustainable Learning Networks in Ireland and Wales (SLNIW), in conjunction with the Spirit of Enterprise Forum, promoted trade links, knowledge sharing and job creation.

Professor Bill O’Gorman, Project Director SLNIW, and Director for Research at the Centre for Enterprise Development and Regional Economy (CEDRE), which is part of the School of Business, Waterford Institute of Technology, commented:  ‘This was a critical, landmark event in these challenging times.  To date the business learning networks have been extremely successful as participants have already derived many benefits from their participation, such as knowledge exchange, self-learning, new business opportunities, and business improvements. This Business Network Showcase has further increased the benefits for all concerned’.

This event also included an exhibition where enterprise support agencies and other providers demonstrated the supports available to SMEs and owner/managers, which are vital to the survival of many businesses in the current economic environment.

Martin Shanahan, CEO of Forfás, Ireland’s policy advisory board for enterprise and science, delivered the key note address for the event and shared his insights on how ‘Growing Enterprise requires National & Local level Initiatives’ for sustainability in this current economic climate.

The event concluded with the presentation of the prestigious Spirit of Enterprise Michael Dee Award to Calmast, the Centre for the Advancement of Learning of Maths, Science and Technology.  Director of Calmast, Eoin Gill was presented with the award by Eoin Dee on behalf of the Michael Dee Family for their outstanding contribution to enhancing student awareness of maths, science and technology in Schools and colleges across the South East.  These skills will pave the way to enhancing long term economic and social development within the region.

This entire event is part of a project being run by Waterford Institute of Technology’s School of Business, under the auspices of its Centre for Enterprise Development and Regional Economy (CEDRE), together with the School of Management at Aberystwyth University.  SLNIW is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the INTERREG 4A Ireland-Wales programme 2007-2013.

Sustainable Learning Networks in Ireland and Wales (SLNIW), in conjunction with the Spirit of Enterprise Forum, will host an event on Ireland – Wales Working Together on Thursday, 12^th May 2011 in the Tower Hotel, Waterford from 4pm to 7pm.

The event has three main aims:

• The Ireland – Wales Working Together seminar and networking session
• A showcase of enterprise supports available to enterprises in Ireland; and
• The presentation of the prestigious Spirit of Enterprise Michael Dee Award.

4.00 pm             
Tea / Coffee
Welcome Address
Dr. Tom OToole, Dean of School of Business, WIT

4.15 pm                         
The Do or Die Marketing Plan – 7 steps to a strategic marketing plan that works
Paula Ronan, Chief Executive, Angel Marketing

4.30  to  5.15 pm             
Enterprise Support Agencies Exhibition and Networking

5.15  to  5.40 pm            
Ireland and Wales Working Together
Simon Baily, Head of Unit, Ireland-Wales Programme 2007 – 2013

5.40  to  6.00 pm           
Over 61 million People on Your Doorstep
John Whelan, Chief Executive, Irish Exporters Association

6.00  to  6.30 pm          
Local Initiatives Lead to Healthy Economies
Martin Shanahan, Chief Executive, Forfás

6.30 pm                       
Presentation of Spirit of Enterprise Michael Dee Award

6.40 pm                       
Complimentary Buffet Dinner

To attend this event or if you have any queries, please contact Catherine Whitty on cwhitty@wit.ie or 051 845682.

The SLNIW project is part funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the INTERREG 4A Ireland-Wales programme 2007-2013.

Dr Carl Clowes, founder of the Nant Gwrtheyrn Trust is to talk at a small business event ‘Learning by Linking – Business Networks in Action’ in Aberystwyth on 31st March.

The Nant Gwrtheyrn Trust, founded in 1978, converted a formerly deserted quarrying village on the coast of Gwynedd into the thriving National Centre for Language and Heritage.  Moving from Manchester to Gwynedd in 1970 to single-handedly run a medical practice in Llanelhearn, Dr Clowes and his wife Dorothi were determined to bring their children up as Welsh speakers.

However, he found a community facing the prospect of closure of the local granite quarry and school, and he felt new employment opportunities were required if it was to survive.  Through gaining the support of businessmen, tutors and friends, he started a Trust in order to purchase the village of Nant Gwrtheyn.

Today,  the secluded Victorian village on the LLyn Peninsula has undergone a £5m renovation, houses a Visitor Centre and Café, conference centre, function room and 4* guest accommodation.  The first courses for Welsh learners were held in 1982 and, to date, some 25,000 people have had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the unique environment that Nant has to offer.

Carl Clowes will share his experience of networking during his talk, “Nant Gwrtheyrn – from vision to reality; networking at a national level to empower Wales and her language”.

At the event, West Wales businesses will be sharing their experiences of networking and learning.  Local business owners from Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Gwynedd and Carmarthenshire who are network members, will describe how they have learned and benefitted from networking with the other Welsh and Irish businesses involved in the project.

There will also be an exhibition of the services provided by Welsh Business Support Agencies including: the Federation of Small Businesses; Finance Wales; Chwarae Teg; Flexible Support for Business; Services to Business – Aberystwyth and Bangor Universities and Ceredigion Business Development.

The event is organised by the Sustainable Learning Networks Ireland and Wales (SLNIW), an exciting and innovative INTERREG 4A funded project being undertaken by the School of Management and Business, Aberystwyth University, Wales in partnership with CEDRE (Centre for Enterprise Development and Regional Economy), Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland.

This unique project has created and developed learning business networks in West Wales and South East Ireland, with the primary goal of increasing the competitiveness, creativity and innovation capacities and capabilities of SMEs and micro-enterprises in these regions.

Time table of event:-

12.30-13:30       Buffet Lunch and Exhibitions of Welsh Business Support Agencies.

13:30-14:30       Welcome address by Nerys Fuller-Love and Bill O’Gorman
- Presentation of Research Findings

14:30-15:30       Presentations by Welsh Networks: “Networking-Learning & Benefits”

15:30-16:00       Tea, Coffee and Exhibition Viewing

16:00-17:00       Guest Speaker-Dr. Carl Iwan Clowes, Founder of The Nant Gwrtheyrn Trust

Admission is free and all are welcome to the event at MedRus Conference Centre, Aberystwyth University on Thursday 31st March, 12.30pm – 5pm.  To reserve your place, please contact Gwern Hywel gwh5@aber.ac.uk or telephone 01970 622506.”

On Thursday 11th November 2010, 21 micro-enterprises and SME’s from Wales met with over 30 businesses from South East Ireland in the Tower Hotel, Waterford at an event designed to promote trade links, knowledge sharing and jobs.

Dr. Bill O’Gorman, Project Director SLNIW, and Director for Research at CEDRE in WIT’s School of Business, explained that this event is an opportunity for cross-border collaboration and networking.  The overall aim is to boost the creative and innovative skills of the Irish and Welsh businesses and ultimately increase their sales, revenues, competitiveness, profitability and employment levels.

A similar event held in Aberystwyth University, Wales on 28 September was attended by 24 Irish companies who found the experience useful for both learning and making business contacts.

SLNIW has created and developed six business learning networks in South East Ireland and West Wales since the end of 2008.  The three Irish networks have successfully connected business owners with likeminded individuals who are willing to work together, share ideas and offer knowledge and skills in order to grow their respective businesses.

The SLNIW project will enable micro-enterprises and SME’s to weather the current economic crisis and to become more robust, profitable, and innovative.

Sean Gallagher, Investor from RTE’s Dragons Den and one of “Irelands Top 100 Entrepreneurs” addressed Irish and Welsh Entrepreneurs and shared his insights into the benefits of networking and how it can lead to business success.

Sustainable Learning Networks in Ireland and Wales (SLNIW) hosted a landmark conference on The Road to Self-Facilitating Business Learning Networks at the Ferrycarrig Hotel in Wexford on Thursday 14th October 2010 in an effort to present and discuss new research and developments in the area of business learning networks since the project commenced in November 2008. 

Key findings from research carried out by teams in the Centre for Enterprise Development and Regional Economy (CEDRE), School of Business, Waterford Institute of Technology, and the School of Management & Business, Aberystwyth University in West Wales was presented at the seminar to network leaders, business strategists, policy makers and support agencies.

Presentations at the seminar included Getting the Networks in Action, From Facilitation to Self-Facilitating Networks:  Identification of the Key Elements for Network Success and Understanding Why Participants Disengage from Networks.  Also, The Role of Higher Education Institutions acting as Intermediaries:  The Role of SLNIW in promoting Regional Economic Growth was also presented.  The Network participants discussed the benefits and value they have derived for themselves and their businesses by being part of the SLNIW network.

Speaking today, Liam Griffin owner of the Griffin Hotel Group shared his views on how networking helped him grow his business and achieve business success.  He commented, I think in the times we now face that face-to-face interaction is the ultimate networking.

Dr. Bill O Gorman, Project Director SLNIW, and Director for Research at CEDRE, School of Business, WIT added that that such a conference is critical in these challenging times because participants in the learning networks are deriving major benefits such as knowledge exchange, self-learning and new business opportunities.  He continued, these business learning networks are instrumental to increasing competitiveness, creativity and innovation amongst SMEs and micro-enterprises and therefore have a positive impact on the economic development of their respective regions.

The aim of the event is to disseminate research learned from the SLNIW project up to September 2010 and present the findings.

SLNIW is an exciting and innovative project part funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the INTERREG 4A Ireland Wales programme 2007-2013. This project is being undertaken by the School of Management and Business, Aberystwyth University, Wales in partnership with Centre for Enterprise Development and Regional Economy (CEDRE), Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland.  This unique project aims to create and develop learning business networks in West Wales and South East Ireland, with the primary goal of increasing the competitiveness, creativity and innovation capacities and capabilities of SMEs and micro-enterprises in these regions.

Key themes of the seminar include:

• The Role of Higher Education Institutions acting as Intermediaries
• The Networks in Action
• The Value of Networks-Perspectives from Network Members
• From Facilitated to Self-Facilitating Networks: Identification of the Key Ingredients for Network Success
• Understanding Why Participants Disengage from Networks: A Review

Guest Speaker:  Liam Griffin founder of the Griffin Group Hotels

This event is free admission.

To book your place at this event please contact Nichola Courtney, SLNIW Project Administrator, Email ncourtney@wit.ie or telephone 051 302946 on or before Thursday 7 October 2010.

Click on the image to link to the Conference Web Page.

SLNIW are hosting their first International Conference on Networks, Learning and Entrepreneurship at Aberystwyth University on the 15^th and 16^th of September 2010.

SLNIW is an exciting and innovative project part funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the INTERREG 4A Ireland Wales programme 2007-2013. The project being undertaken by the School of Management and Business, Aberystwyth University, Wales in partnership with CEDRE (Centre for Enterprise Development and Regional Economy), Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland. This unique project aims to create and develop learning business networks in West Wales and South East Ireland, with the primary goal of increasing the competitiveness, creativity and innovation capacities and capabilities of SMEs and micro-enterprises in these regions. Key themes ofthe conference include:

• Social capital and networks in entrepreneurship and small businesses;
• Gender perspectives on networks in small firms;
• Learning styles in networks;
• Entrepreneurial learning and social capital;
• Knowledge transfer through networking;
• International entrepreneurship and networks;
• Learning through networks;
• Social networking in small business;
• Motivation for joining business networks;
• Innovation and creativity in networks;
• Developing international business through networking.

For more information visit the SNLIW website at http://www.slniw.com/index.php or the conference website at http://www.slniwconference.co.uk/

Almost fifty owners and managers from small and medium enterprises across the south east, including five from Tipperary have started work with counter- parts in west Wales in a new programme.
Promoted by Waterford Institute of Technology and Aberystwyth University, the programme aims to strengthen business, increase export trade and create additional employment.

The Sustainable Learning Networks in Ireland and Wales programme (SLNIW) is working with 49 Irish entrepreneurs and more than 60 from Wales, allowing them to share knowledge and experiences and – in time – to explore business opportunities in the two jurisdictions. The programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Programme 2007-2013 (Interreg 4A).
A particular strength of the project, which commenced with formal sessions in Waterford last week, is that it will begin by working with network particle pants to Identify the additional skills they require, in order to meet current business challenges creatively and innovatively by more fully using existing strengths and, where required, additional resources.
SLNIW will see the entrepreneurs tackle issues around competitiveness in their sectors, as well, as being more creative in preparing their businesses for growth by penetrating new markets in their own countries and internationally. Opening the first networking session led by SLNIW, Ger Long, Head of the Department of Accounting and Finance, School of Business, Waterford Institute of Technology, said: “There is strength In numbers. The ability to tap into the collective experience of over 100 of their peers from south east Ireland and west Wales’ will be very valuable to participants.
‘One of the challenges faced by those who own and manage small and medium enterprises can be a sense of isolation, as they face problems alone or in a vacuum. Programmes such as this one can ease that and allow those involved to tap into each other’s knowledge base and prior experience. The cooperation and collaborations that emerge from it will stand the participants, their businesses and the two regions well in the future’
He added: “While the Centre for Enterprise Development & Regional Economy (CEDRE) at Waterford Institute of Technology is pleased to work with colleagues in the School of Management and Business at Aberystwyth University on this programme, the heavy lifting will be done by the business owners from each region, in working together to tackle challenges that may be preventing their businesses from expanding or being sustained over time. We now look forward to seeing alliances forged and opportunities exploited”  Dr Bill O’Gorman, Project Director, SLNIW and Director, CEDRE, commented: “This major initiative between south east Ireland and west Wales can deliver real business growth and sustainable employment in the two regions.
“It fits very well with the strategic drive by Waterford Institute of Technology to foster greater economic development in the south east. The small and medium enterprise sector that this programme works with can provide the bedrock for reversing the economic decline we have seen in recent years.”
Participant Austin Gleeson of Solve IT, Clonmel, said: “I’m hoping the network will develop friends and help me to develop my business. From past network experience, they give you a lot of ideas some good, some less so. The main thing is it gets the thought process working and it helps you think outside the box.”
Nicola Wade, Tipp Toes Ltd, Cashel, added: “I hope SLNIW will help me form business relationships and contacts with others in different businesses that face similar challenges. I also hope it will open the gateway to Wales and create a base or contact there to manage business locally”
Further information about the new programme is available at http://www.slniw.corn.

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