Accountancy and Business Advisory firm, Amatino Partners hosted a Business Seminar in the Nuremore Hotel in Carrickmacross on Tuesday the 5^th of October. The businesses in attendance ranged from start-up enterprises to existing well established businesses all eager to hear how to they could export their products and services outside Ireland.

The theme of the event was Raising your Game for Successful Exporting and the aim of the event was to arm businesses with the information to help them avail of grant funding and fine tune their business so that they could enter export markets. Tim Leavy, from Enterprise Ireland opened the event with a full break down of the substantial grants available to businesses interested in tapping into the export market. He outlined a number of different grants available, business suitability for grant aid and the extra mentoring supports that are available to businesses.

Gráinne Brady, Amatino Partner’s Marketing Consultant continued the positive theme by debunking the myths that marketing is only for large companies with huge budgets. She highlighted the positive effects of targeted marketing and the importance of online marketing to help increase awareness, drive sales and widen businesses customer base. Grainne explained how effective marketing can allow you to ‘punch above your weight’ in another country allowing you to compete with the larger players.

Combilift’s Managing Director, Martin Mc Vicar had the audience enthralled by the number of countries their company are operating in. With 99% of the company’s business being exports, it is no wonder the audience was eager to hear how the company overcame the usual challenges of culture and language. Martin’s positive contribution to the seminar illustrated that in Martin’s own words “If Combilift can do it, so can you”.

Colm O’Hagan from Project Engineering showed how significant savings of money, time and resources could be made through the implementation of LEAN principles throughout business organisations. For the purpose of the seminar, he focused on manufacturing and production businesses but he did point out that significant savings could be made in all types of companies through the implementation of the principles. The principles of LEAN became even more convincing when he showed real life local business examples of how LEAN has transformed their businesses.

The evening was wrapped up by Patrick Cunningham, Business Advisor from Amatino Partners, who concentrated on improving the profitability and cashflow of businesses through effective management of your cash, prompt invoicing and credit management. He touched upon the variety of grant and supports available from Leader and FAS and the importance of tapping into the wealth of knowledge and experience of the entire business team.

Amatino Partners have offices in 42 Dublin St, Monaghan and Aeta Place, Gortnakesh in Cavan and offer Accountancy, Business Advisory, Marketing and Taxation consultancy to new and existing businesses across the north east. Full details of the grants available to businesses will be available on their website www.amatino.ie