Budding entrepreneurs brush up with E-Factor help

SEVERAL of the country’s most successful businessmen and women will share their tips and secrets with the next generation of budding movers and shakers, testing their mettle and checking if they have the entrepreneurial skill or E-Factor, to succeed.

It’s all part of a unique event organised and run by the Centre for Entrepreneurship at the School of Business in Waterford Institute of Technology.

Head of the Business School, Dr Thomas O’Toole, and his team have brought together several of the biggest names in business in Ireland for the ground-breaking E-Factor event at the Tower Hotel in the city tomorrow.

Among the multi-millionaires and household names who will inspire students gathered for the hi-tech, hi-spec event are Sam McCauley from the renowned pharmacy chain; Brian and Eamonn Fallon of Daft.ie and John Price of JAM Media.

“This venture will be a ‘live lab’ experience for our students — they will be learning by doing on the day,” Dr O’Toole said. “It’s the first focused awareness campaign of its size to be run at any third-level institute. This will also be a very hi-tech, hi-spec venture and is completely student-focused. Everything, from the technology we will be using throughout the day to the set, the lighting, the music and the format will be student-friendly and focused,” Dr O’Toole added.

Chief executive in residence at the School of Business, Sam McCauley, said conference chairman David McWilliams and guest speakers, such as Jerry Kennelly of Stockbyte and Stockdisc; Helene Haughney of Nubiq; Joanna Gardiner of Ovelle Pharmaceuticals; Ann Heraty of CPL Resources and Paul Curran of Curran Signs and Graphics will all bring their unique experiences to the event.

“The interaction throughout the day will be very informal. It will take away the mystique about being a successful entrepreneur, and will show these bright young students that if you really think you can make it in business, you can.”

Head of research at the Centre for Entrepreneurship, School of Business at WIT, Dr Bill O’Gorman, said E-Factor is a first for Ireland’s third-level sector.

“Throughout the day they will see the advantages of formal business training for entrepreneurs and having a business plan. Such a foundation short-circuits a lot of the problems businesses can experience.

“The true entrepreneur will have a mix of raw, natural talent and formal business training — characteristics which truly are a recipe for success.”

Treading the white line

WHEN Paul Curran and his brother-in-law Bryan O’Quigley took over the family signage business in 1992, it was all but on its knees.

Today, thanks to the enterprising spirit, hard work and commitment of all involved, Curran Signs & Graphics is a thriving entity, employing 50 staff from its Clonmel base.

Traditionally involved in the road white-lining business, the company took over a signage operation some years ago and are now the only outfit in the country that can look after the road sign and the road markings.

“We paint the white lines on the road and we also manufacture traffic signs,” says Paul Curran. “Civil engineering and infrastructure is a good business to be in and it has got very competitive.”

Advice to budding entrepreneurs from Mr Curran would include having a clear, definite plan as to how they see their business progressing; what they’re going to achieve by certain times; and knowing when to take advice.

“We had a consultant with us for four or five years who used to come to us once a month, Vincent O’Neill, who has since passed away. He was a huge influence on us as a mentor. Once you get to a certain stage, it’s not a bad thing to have a mentor to knock a couple of ideas out.”