National Conference A Major Success

Article Added: 2010/11/14

 The National Enterprise Conference, hosted by Clonmel Chamber, has been described as an ‘extraordinary success’ by the President of the organisation, Tina Mulhearne.

 

“The event highlighted the need for businesses to think creatively and to tackle old challenges with new approaches” she said.

 

Speakers at the event were drawn from both public and private sector. Local businessman George Mordaunt delivered what was described as a stark account of the realities of running a family business in the current climate. In the speech he outlined the stresses and strains that many SME owners have encountered. Overall, his speech was optimistic. He encouraged business owners to confront the issues and problems and to ‘stand up, stand out from your competitors and to be decisive’.

 

Both Deputy Richard Bruton and Minister Billy Kelleher spoke of the current crisis and the actions that need to be taken to remedy the problems.

 

John Flahavan, a successful entrepreneur with Flahavans outlined how his business had approached new markets with new products. Tony Keohane from Tesco Ireland outlined the challenges being faced by a global company such as Tesco and how they had adapted in the current economy. Paul Deegan gave an overview of the benefits of the Skillnet training company in his role as Chair of the Southern Tipperary Skillnet. To close the conference Avine McNally from the SFA gave a positive and encouraging speech on how SME’s can be the engine room of the new economy.

 

The conference attracted a record attendance for a Clonmel Chamber conference and Chamber CEO Brian Cleary described the event as being something that the organisation plans to build on. “We brought delegates from across the country to Clonmel to show them the progressive and dynamic businesses that we have. I think that we also showed them that we are intent on minimising the effects of the recession on the area by launching initiatives such as the National Enterprise Competition” he said.