Donegal Enterprise Board

Donegal Enterprise Board launched the Profitnet programme under license from University of Brighton in January 2008. The programme has now been running successfully for over a year and has involved five groups with 77 individual members. Mike Tunney, chief executive officer of the Donegal Enterprise Board feels that there have been several key benefits from implementing Profitnet in the area. Firstly that it has given the board the opportunity to witness and fully understand the importance of providing an open environment for small businesses to share and learn from each other. Secondly, it has demonstrated that business learning is a long process with support needed in all stages. Thirdly, it gives us a unique opportunity to offer Profitnet members access to other initiatives from the Donegal Enterprise Board such as finance, training and management.

The project team from Donegal came to Brighton for initial training on the Profitnet programme. Staff from the University of Brighton then travelled to Donegal to train the facilitators. Mike Tunney says:

"the training and support from the University of Brighton for the implementation of Profitnet in Donegal has been fully professional. For members of staff and external facilitators, the training was one of the most critical elements of the project. During the project implementation, we have enjoyed the ongoing support of the Profitnet team in Brighton. In particular the practical insights they are able to give have been a major factor for Profitnet’s significant success in Donegal."