Learners who successfully complete this module will:

• Develop appropriate knowledge and skills for starting a business
• Understand the processes involved in starting, operating and evaluating a business
• Appreciate how a range of internal and external factors can influence the development of a business
• Appreciate the importance of good planning, organisation, implementation and evaluation skills.

The Start Your Own Business Course is designed to provide the skills required to start a business and the knowledge to understand the issues involved in doing so. It will provide the learner with real life experience of investigating and evaluating a business idea.

This Start Your Own Business Course is FETAC Level 5 accredited; training is delivered over 20 hours.

Modules covered in this class are:

Three compulsory

• Planning your Business for the Next Year
• Marketing On A Shoestring
• Finance, Credit Control and Cash Flow Management

This will allow the development of a business plan, the required output for FETAC.

The group can then select any four of these modules.

• Costing And Pricing For Profit
• Your Relationship With The Revenue And How To Minimise Your Tax
• Sources Of Business Funding
• Strategies for Growing Your Business
• Developing Your Management Skills
• Time And Stress Management
• Keeping On Top Of Your Legal Obligations
• New Advertising And Promotional Ideas
• Ensure You Insure Properly

Joseph Alois Shumpeter, leading economist and political scientist, described entrepreneurship as 'creative destruction', whereby established ways of doing things are destroyed by the creation of new and better ways . . .

For further information on this training course please contact Gerard Mc Loughlin Ph: 01 8423612 or alternatively gerard@ballymun.org.

Funding to run a basic computer training course under Fasttrack Into IT initiative was obtained and delivered. In response to the delivery of this programme a need was identified for further progressionary training for course participants. Further evidence of this need became evident from the one to one meetings with enterprise clients.

The Enterprise Development Section has constructed a comprehensive training programme aimed at IT to provide clients with the necessary skills to participate in the knowledge economy. There are three modules in our IT training aimed at those who are most disadvantaged from the Labour Market due to their lack of IT skills.

• The e-cert programme provides clients with the necessary step by step guide of practical use of a computer for every day use. At the end of the programme the course participants will be able to use numerous software programmes, use e- mail and navigate the internet. This course has a mandatory 20 hours per week.
• Intermediate Training Programme, is an 8 week training course that progress from e-cert programme. 1 class per week for 3 hours duration. All classes will include 1 hour training on keyboarding skills. The intermediate training programme will develop proficiency in Word processing, File Management, Internet/E-mail. Participants will have a greater understanding of the potential of each application while developing keyboard skills. Classes have a provisional content for each week that can be changed to suit the needs of the learners.
• Advanced training is also an 8 weeks training module. 1 class per week for 3 hours duration. All classes will include 1 hour training on keyboarding skills. Word processing advanced topics will be included. Learning how to use Spreadsheets. The last four classes are to be used to learn spreadsheets, at the end of the four weeks learners should be competent in using spreadsheets for their needs, again any topics learners may want to be shown in class can be incorporated into each lesson. Classes have a provisional content for each week that can be changed to suit the needs of the learners. All classes will also include some practice.

This training programme will develop the skills and abilities of participants to develop IT skills up to clerical administration level. It will improve participants involvement and efficiencies in the information economy and subsequently minimise any possible digital divide. For further information on these training courses please contact Gerard Mc Loughlin Ph: 01 8423612 or alternatively gerard@ballymun.org.

The Enterprise Development Section recognises that if the Invest in Yourself participants were willing to dedicate the time to explore some of the possibilities that are available to them, take a risk and act on any of those possibilities. Any potential reward would far out way any of the risk that they took. The group recognised very realistic goals, and how they could be strategically realised. We have no doubt they will accomplish these goals and be opportunity ready.

Course Aims:

• To teach the strategies used by the worlds greatest achievers in order to help participants achieve maximum success.
• To teach a practical system for transforming ones goals into reality.
• To teach participants strategies they can use to help deal with stress, self-confidence, fear and to obtain balance in their lives.

Course Objectives:

• To help and motivate participants set up a business, return to the workplace or change direction in their life.
• To help participants turn ideas and desires into achievable goals.
• Through workshops, help participants development a positive mental attitude.

Course Duration:

• The course takes twenty four hours to deliver. This can be done in several ways, as a night course, a three day course or spread over a longer period depending on clients requirements.

Modules Covered on the Course include:

• Module (1) Who Do You Think You Are
  Topics covered: Desire, Faith, Negative Beliefs, and Stress Management.
• Module (2) Designing A New You
  Topics covered: Values, Empowering Beliefs, Your Comfort Zone, and Self Esteem/ Self confidence
• Module (3) Awareness
  Topics Covered: Living in the Now, Listening Skills, Communication Skills, and Assertiveness
• Module (4) Awaken the Giant Within You
  Topics Covered: Setting and achieving Goals, Dealing with Fear, Dealing with Change, and Your Joy List.

For further information on this training course please contact Gerard Mc Loughlin Ph: 01 8423612 or alternatively gerard@ballymun.org.

Mentoring for people who are considering self-employment, starting their own business, or progressing the development of their current company operations. The economic circumstances have clearly indicated that there is no such thing as a job for life. Even the biggest of companies are failing, the financial institutions are in tatters and the public sector is facing significant challenges. The result of this is that for a lot of people there is only one logical course of action: to start their own business. Once again the micro enterprises and small to medium business sector proves to be the backbone of the Irish economy.

There are a lot of pitfalls & unknowns to starting your own business. Besides the financial risks there are legal & financial issues. How & where do you find customers? What is the best way to market your product or service? Who can help me and how do you approach them?

The Enterprise Development Section of the Partnership will help to facilitate you with answers to all these questions and how to explore the options that are available and how these can be strategically realised. Not through boring talks but by meeting and talking to people who have gone through the process of being in business and setting up in business. In the Partnership you will find lots of good relevant information, healthy discussion and helpful people.

Clients will be progressed through additional supports akin to their business growth needs at start-level e.g. accounting/mentoring supports and more advanced training matching their growth when the need for any additional services is required progression to Dublin City Enterprise Board, Enterprise Ireland and First Steps will also be sought.

For further information on these meetings please contact Gerard Mc Loughlin Ph: 01 8423612 or alternatively gerard@ballymun.org.

Proposed Modules covered in Course/Programme:

Understanding the terminology and an introduction to TAS Books - Learning the whole objective and get a full understanding of accounting and its concepts. Develop an appreciation of good bookkeeping practice.

Sales - the importance and putting them through TAS - Processing the Sales Invoice, Sales Receipt, Sales Daybook and Aged Debtors Listing.

Purchase Ledger - Processing the Purchase Invoice, Purchase Receipt, Purchase Daybook and Aged Creditors Listing.

Bank Ledger - Processing all other Payments & Receipts to Bank Ledger, Creating Bank Daybook and finally the Bank Reconciliation. Petty Cash and producing cash flow projection.

Expenses, Revenue rules their importance and entering them into TAS - VAT - Calculating Vat, Paying/Reclaiming Vat and Completing Vat 3 Return.

Introduction to Systems - TAS Accounts Software and Excel Spreadsheets.

Nominal ledger, wages etc and how they are dealt with.

Understanding the different year end reports (trial balance, profit and loss and Balance Sheet).

Filling out a form 11 from the information entered into TAS - As a self-employed individual you pay tax under the self-assessment system. You pay Preliminary Tax (an estimate of tax due) on or before 31 October each year and make a tax return not later than 31 October following the end of the tax year. You must keep proper records that allow you to fill out your annual tax return. This tax return is done via a Form 11.

For further information on this training course please contact Gerard Mc Loughlin Ph: 01 8423612 or alternatively gerard@ballymun.org.

This course will give the participant a greater understanding of Revenue Online Services in turn increasing productivity in filing annual returns, including the following

• Tax and PRSI Issues for the Self Employed and Company Directors
• Completely different system for the self employed and directors
• All tax administration falls on you
• Heavy burden of compliance
• Corporate Governance
• What do you have to do?
• When do you have to do it?
• How much do you have to pay?
• Culture change from manual to computerised taxation WHY?
• Private costs (Medical bills, etc.)
• PRSI Explained for employer & Employee
• How to fill out P30
• The E11 Form what it contains
• Short Version
• Long Version
• Example of how it is filled out
• Crossover from hard-copy to electronic
• The why, The how, The benefits

Revenue Online Service 2 hour computer based work shop

• Form 11
• Corporation Tax
• Vat 3
• P30
• P35
• Annual returns

For further information on this training course please contact Gerard Mc Loughlin Ph: 01 8423612 or alternatively gerard@ballymun.org.

Click here to view / download a booklet "Understanding Tax For A Small Business (252KB)>>

Terence Kavanagh facilitates these Question and Answer sessions to help identify and overcome obstacles that may occur in your business. As part of our mentoring panel we act in a professional and confidential way by listening, advising and suggesting solutions to problems encountered by you.

During the course of running a business you will at times identify an area where specialist advice is needed. Terence Kavanagh in consultation with Enterprise Development Executive then meets with the enterprise client and agrees a strategic plan of action.

Areas of involvement would generally include

• Production Planning
• Costing
• Marketing
• Distribution
• Financial Structuring/ Restructuring

Terence Kavanaghs role is that of an independent advisor. He will encourage you to take appropriate action by contributing informed, independent and knowledgeable advice. By doing this you shall be in a better position to make decisions.

The mentor panel is precluded from becoming actively involved in the day-to-day management or assuming any executive role in the business. Your mentor panel is not a consultant and although they may advise on a course of action it is not his function or role to perform these for you.

The mentoring panel must have your fullest co-operation if the assignment is to succeed. An open and frank relationship is needed.

The mentor panel and the client ensure that the objectives of the assignment are being met. The assignment is usually carried out over a period ranging from six weeks to six months in order to realise the full benefits if the service.

For further information on this programme please contact Gerard Mc Loughlin Ph: 01 8423612 or alternatively gerard@ballymun.org.