Plato Midwest, the business support network for established Irish owned SMEs has launched its Advanced Programme for 2012. An information evening to outline details and how to apply to the Plato Advanced Programme, followed by networking and refreshments will be held on Thursday, February 9 at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Ennis Road, Limerick from 6.00pm to 7.30pm. Speaking about the forthcoming Plato Advanced Programme, Eoin Tynan O’Mahony, Regional Manager, Plato Midwest said, “Plato has been hugely successful in the Midwest.

In a recent survey of our members 91 per cent of them reported that participation in Plato had given them more confidence in running their businesses, indeed 41 per cent of them expanded their businesses and took on new employees with 30 per cent reporting an increase in turnover. The principal objective of the Plato Advanced Programme will be to assist member companies to identify key business objectives for the next 12 months and to work with the support of Plato towards these objectives.“
The Plato Advanced Programme is open to all established businesses in the region. The commitment is for 12 group meetings in the year, one per month. A number of supports will also be available to draw on such as training and networking events. Support interventions such as mentoring or consultancy will also be provided where appropriate.
The involvement of multinationals and larger companies, as ‘Parents’ in providing Group Leaders and support in a facilitating and mentoring role is unique to Plato and the facilitated peer to peer learning has successfully aided over 4,000 companies in Ireland over the past 15 years. The ‘Parent’ companies to Plato involved in supporting the Plato Programmes in the Midwest include Reagecon, ACC/Rabo Bank, Microsoft, Loyalty Build, Essilor, Roche, Filtertek, AIB, Rusal formerly Aughinish Alumina, Bank of Ireland and Avocent.
Eamonn Kelly, CEO of Clare County Enterprise Board and Chairman of Plato Midwest commented, “Plato can act as a ‘Non executive Board’ to support small businesses, it’s an extremely valuable forum for the SME sector.  We look forward to welcoming existing and new Plato members to our Information Evening on the February 9 where a presentation and outline on the Plato programme in the Midwest will be given.”

At the launch of the Plato Midwest, business support network for established Irish owned SMEs Advanced Programme for 2012 were from Left Eamonn Kelly, CEO of Clare County Enterprise Board, Eoin Tynan O’Mahony, Regional Manager Plato, John O’Connell, Managing Director Connor Winfield.