The Enterprise Network Europe Programme (ENEP) is an initiative of Enterprise NI, supported under Measure 4.1 - Outward and Forward Looking Region - Networking in Europe and Beyond comprising three elements as follows:
As one specific element of the wider ENEP, Tradebridge has been delivered by a partnership of Ledcom and its associates. Working exclusively with the small business sector, Tradebridge was intended as a way to help small N .Ireland business to expand and trade with mainland Europe.
The programme was launched in April 2005 with press releases and a simple explanatory brochure. To date the programme has achieved the following against those targets.
- 110 businesses have been in direct contact with the Programme agents
- 65 Businesses were visited on site and underwent a comprehensive assessment process (60 being eventually recruited to the programme)
- 44 Businesses participated in formal training workshops (a further 14 received more detailed export briefing)
- 14 Businesses participated in two group trade missions to the Czech Republic and Poland
- 16 Businesses undertook individually organised market/trade visits to new European markets (including 5 visits involving two partners from the same business, 1 return/follow up trip and 5 LEA staff members accompanying participating businesses)
- 16 senior LEA staff travel to Poland, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic in two organised trips, to meet with complementary enterprise support agencies in those countries and to explore areas for potential collaboration or joint working. It is intended that some of those agencies will participate in reciprocal visits.
- Work is currently ongoing to develop and further enhance these linkages |
