Tree of Knowledge has been established by Ben Best, a young enterpreneur from Portrush who has recently launched his new enterprise, delivering a unique pod-based learning resource that helps children and adults to share knowledge and become more enterprising in their education and personal development.

Managing Director, Ben Best was supported in the Start a Business Programme.  The company already has made a significant impact on the Northern Ireland marketplace and aims to grow the business further by exploiting export opportunities in the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Best previously worked as part of the senior management team for Tree of Knowledge (Scotland) who developed the "APODO" learning tool.  Mr Best said he set up his own company to develop opportunities he identified within the corporate and education sectors in Ireland, given the success the resource has had in Scotland.

"Throughout Northern Ireland the company has already worked with nearly 7,000 pupils helping them achieve their true potential and fulfil their dreams.  Currently we are now working with around a 100 schools and company" said Mr Best.

"Our aim is to help schools, pupils and businesses boost and develop their self-esteem and confidence through having fun and laughter at school or at work.

Mr Best really valued and appreciated the support he received from his local enterprise agency through the Start a Business Programme.  "The training and business advice really gave me the confidence to believe in myself and the potential success of the company.  Thanks to the SABp I have learnt the principles of financial management and even understand the finances of the company".  He added.

Jayne Taggart, CE of Causeway Enterprise Agency said "Tree of Knowledge represents an excellent prodigy of the SABp.  As a result of participating in the programme, CEA was able to assist in levering additional support for the new company through referring him to Invest NI's Growth Accelerator Programme.  We have every confidence that the company will continue to strengthen its sales position within the marketplace, and ultimately fulfil its vision for empowering young people and adults to extend their thinking and to take responsibility for their own learning".

The EPC Company is recently established in Omagh a tenant of Omagh Enterprise Company Ltd, providing Energy Performance Certificates and other services.  The EPC is a sister company of SCH Construction Ltd which was formed in 2000 by local business man, Stephen Harpur having over 10 years experience within the construction industry. 

EPC specialises in producing Energy Performance Certificates which are now effective in Northern Ireland after the June 30 2008 before the completion of a sale of a dwelling.  This is in line with legislation from the EU Directive 2002/91/EC on the Energy Performance of Buildings.

EPC Company provides a professional and competent end to end service for Estate Agents, Solicitors, Architects, Property Developers, Contractors and Self Builders.

Omagh Enterprise Company Ltd

I don't know about you, but I find it pretty difficult to get up some mornings.  I would imagine it could be harder still when you are your own boss - a late night drinking, a wakeful young child and extreme tiredness can all contribute.

Motivation is one of the essentials for anyone working for themselves.  But there is far more to it than simply gearing yourself up to start the day and motivation alone is not enough to keep your career going.

It is equally important that there is a career path that you have established and that you work towards maintaining.  It might be hard to envisage needing a career pattern when you are your own boss but in reality, personal development is still important.

And the same also goes for your staff, a staff member who receives training and is happy is less likely to leave than an untrained member of staff. 

Once you're your own boss, it is all too easy to believe that all you need to do is simply keep working.  But that will not be enough as anyone who has survived a recession can tell you.

Standing still in career terms is never an option, no matter how small your business.  Take an example of a copy typist.  There is plenty of work in the past on old style typewriters but if the copy typist had not become computer literate, he or she would quickly have found themselves redundant.  The same principle applies to business.

I always say to clients that there is no such thing as standing still business, if you are not always striving to move the business forward, chances are you will be left behind by competitors and customer preferences.

If you worked for a large company, chances are you would be offered training as required, with follow-up opportunities where necessary.  They may even be prepared to give you time off work for outside coursework or even contribute towards the cost of independent training.  But even if your business is a one man band, you can still adopt the same strategies for yourself.  The only difference is that you will need to be more organised than if you were part of a large organisation, as a small business attending a block release course will mean that there is no one back at your desk keeping the business going.

The financial and practical implications need to be clearly considered, but there is no reason why you can't enhance your skills and ability to run your business more effectively.

There is no doubt that personal development can help your business in several unexpected ways.  Not only will it help you to carry out related tasks but it may help motivate you through a rough business period or provide fresh ideas when a business becomes stale.

Another extremely valid reason for making sure you keep up-to-date with career developments is that you never know when you may take a job with another company either because you have sold the business or you have been asked to join at Board level.  Hopefully your business will be so successful that others will want you on the board as a non-executive director.

By ensuring that you keep up-to-date with developments within the sector and by being seen as the industry leader, you have a chance of winning those lucrative positions.  Whilst this may not seem like a realistic approach if you are currently running a one man band, consider the possibility that you may wish to sell your business after the first flush of success.  If you manage that then you may well want to start afresh and you will need to have up-to-date, well developed skills to take you to your next challenge.

Work West Enterprise Agency

Businesses with ambitions to transform society in Northern Ireland will get a boost this week with the launch of a new online trading directory.

The Big Black Book will be launched today at the Networks 2008 social enterprise trade fair at St George's Market and aims to be a comprehensive listing of all the local businesses working to build a better future.

Supported by the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Northern Ireland, the online directory www.bigblackbook.org aims to promote opportunities for social enterprises - businesses with social objectives whose profits are reinvested in order to support the local community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.  Often called "more than profit" organisations, the social objectives can be wide and diverse, as can the sector in which the business operates.

"There has been a huge growth within the social economy in the past few years and we have worked with groups doing everything from managing a golf course to recycling electrical equipment and furniture to running drug and alcohol awareness training courses", said Rachel Marshall from Work West, which developed the idea for the directory.

"For example, Stepping Stones provides an environment for adults with learning disabilities to avail of vocational training leading to supported employment through its coffee shop, craft shop and picture framing workshop, and its business venue and coffee house.

"Their community businesses operate on a commercial basis and any future profits will be re-invested in helping people with disabilities in the Lisburn are”, she added.

The directory will profile nearly 100 local businesses at its launch though more will be added on a daily basis as social economy businesses register.  “Because these businesses operate in so many areas, there was no comprehensive way for people to identify these companies.

“There is a real lack of information about the range of the number of social economy businesses out there and this will make potential buyers more aware,” she said.

For more information contact Work West on 028 90610826 or e-mail Rachel.Marshall@workwest.co.uk

Work West Enterprise Agency