BoI branches to showcase local small businesses

Bank of Ireland is hosting its 'Show Your Business' week throughout its 277 retail branches across the country from next Monday 12th to Friday 16th October. This week-long event will provide SMEs, both customers and non-customers of the bank, an opportunity to showcase their products and services in the local branch and offers them potential new business opportunities. It will also offer small businesses a platform to network with other local entrepreneurs to exchange ideas with their peers and provide support to drive one another's success. Exhibitors will have the opportunity to bring along their own exhibition stand or take a table, set up their laptop, bring along some samples, whatever is required to make the most of their display in the local branch. There will be in excess of 40 small businesses showcasing in branches in Meath during the week. Some key exhibitors include: Savour Food Service, owned by Paul Sadlier, who brings over 15 years experience in the creation and delivery of taste and flavour to a wide range of culinary foods across Europe. He supplies gravies, sauces, bouillons and seasonings to the catering industry. He will be exhibiting some his produce in Navan branch. The bank's Trim branch will showcase Mimitoys, an educational toy company with shops in Trim and Clane, Co Kildare. They also sell toys via their website, www.mimitoys.ie. The company was established in June 2005 by Mimi and Myles Doyle. It currently employs six people within their shops, warehouse and website operations. Mimitoys currently serves the Irish market; however, advanced plans are in place to launch the enterprise onto the British market in mid-March 2010. Flo Web Design is a web design company. Since 2001 it has offered a wide range of web and graphic services to include website design and development, content management system, search engine marketing, graphic design and printing. The company has a wide range of customers located all over the north-eastern region of Ireland, including Navan, Kells, Drogheda, Cavan and Dublin. The company will exhibit in the Kells branch. Elaine Lowry, manager, Bank of Ireland, Navan, said: "The concept behind 'Show Your Business' week is that small businesses can display their wares at the local branch and interact with a wide audience in their local area. It also promotes the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst local communities, the birthplace of SMEs. There is a perception that we are not lending to small businesses. This is simply not true. We are actively supporting and will continue to support viable businesses. It remains one of our key priorities." She went on: "We acknowledge the challenging market conditions for small and micro businesses and the pressure that businesses are experiencing as a result. We have lent almost €1.5bn to SMEs, excluding property lending, in the past six months. We continue to approve four out of every five loan applications this year. In addition, the bank has put in place a number of specialist funds to encourage economic activity in some key sectors at this time, including a €250m Business Support Fund, €100m Developing Business Loan Fund and €100m Green Business Loan Fund."