Opportunities for Traveller Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurial spirit within the Travelling community is the focus of a conference entitled ‘Positivity and Enterprise in the Traveller Community’ being held in Dublin.
Organised by the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Enterprise Board, the conference is part of a pilot project, ‘Special Initiative for Travellers’, established to foster and encourage enterprise in the local Travelling Community.
Lack of confidence, fear of discrimination, potential loss of benefits and child care are all cited as reasons why some members of the Travelling community do not access enterprise supports.
The conference, taking place in Mount Merrion Community Centre as part of the initiative to support new business in the Travelling community, is showcasing the positive business stories that have emerged from the community. Presentations by successful business women such as Bridget Kelly and established advocates including Thomas McCann, Social Entrepreneur and Martin Collins, Director of Pavee Point, all from the Travelling community, are highlighting the opportunities available.
Next week, (13th December and 15th December respectively), the organisers will host workshops in ‘Steps to Starting Your Own Business’ and ‘Developing Skills’, helping members of the community to identify and develop their own opportunities. Entrepreneurs are also receiving ongoing mentoring sessions from County Enterprise Board mentors.
“This ‘Special Initiative for Travellers’ will open doors for many budding entrepreneurs within the community”, says Michael Johnson, CEO of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Enterprise Board, “encouraging the latent entrepreneurial culture that exists to develop new businesses and self-employment. This in turn will contribute to the economic and social wellbeing of the community as a whole.”
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Enterprise Board is running the local pilot initiative in conjunction with FAS until December 2011. The initiative aims to explore the potential for new enterprises and provide a range of supports to members of the Travelling community who wish to start their own business.
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