Entrepreneurs in N. Ireland

Five Nova Scotia entrepreneurs have moved to the international stage. They recently spent a week in Northern Ireland making contacts, sharpening their marketing skills and taking an in-depth look at entrepreneurship, Emerald Isle style.

"By example, they delivered a positive message of Nova Scotia's support and leadership role in the world of entrepreneurship education and small business development," said Economic Development Minister Gordon Balser. "And these particular young entrepreneurs now have a gateway to Europe where they can create new markets for their products and services."

The group met with dignitaries, business organizations and small business owners during the visit. The trip marked the last leg of the Nova Scotia/Northern Ireland young entrepreneurs' exchange program for 1999. Their Irish peers visited Nova Scotia's business community in late September.

Each member of the exchange gained a great deal of insight into what is happening in the field of entrepreneurship and about their personal business goals.

"The arranged meetings, both home and abroad, took you to places where you can learn from other entrepreneurs' triumphs and difficulties," said Dan Ross, of Ross Screenprint in Antigonish. "You can feed off their energy. I'd encourage anyone who has the opportunity to participate in an entrepreneurial exchange program to do so."

Each entrepreneur developed a personal action plan to help them make decisions about their own businesses. Mr. Ross has completed the goals he outlined in his action plan and is now in the process of expanding his plan.

"I've changed my role in my business," he explained. "I'm now working more aggressively in marketing my products rather than concentrating on production. I'm hiring new staff and defining my most profitable markets and producing products for them specifically."

The exchange is a joint project of the province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Economic Development, the Black Business Initiative and the Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development. The Northern Ireland partners are Action Resource Centre and Shell LiveWIRE Ltd.

The centre for entrepreneurship is a joint venture funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Education and the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification. The agreement is managed by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Nova Scotia Economic Development.

Nova Scotia participants of the exchange were:

• Jo-Anne Donovan, The Cape Breton Store Online, Halifax
• Nicole Johnson, En Jay Fashion Designs, Dartmouth
• Dan Ross, Ross Screenprint Ltd., Antigonish
• Tanya Shaw-Weeks, Unique Patterns Designs Ltd. and Virtually Yours, Dartmouth
• Mark Knodell, Continental Connections Trading, Bedford