About Us

Meeting Format

The BEN network meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 8pm – 9pm.

The majority of the BEN network meetings will be held in pubs, cafes, or a member’s place of business. These meetings are somewhat informal and we encourage members to buy a coffee or a soft drink to enjoy during the meeting (these businesses will not be charging a fee for the use of their venue so a small purchase or two would be most welcome). The Chairman will facilitate the meeting and may have some interactive tasks for the members to carry out. From introducing yourself and your business to brain storming a business challenge to splitting off into pairs to learn more about your fellow member’s business – all of these tasks have the ultimate goal of improving each member’s business. The more we get to know each other, the easier it will be to refer business to each other. These more informal meetings will also be a forum for open discussions. Business referrals will be passed at the beginning or end of these meetings.

There are typically one to two formal meetings each quarter and these are held in the Friar’s Gate Theatre, Kilmallock. In general there is a pattern to these meetings. The Chairman welcomes everyone and every member quickly introduces themselves and says a little bit about what they do. Next we have a guest speaker on a relevant topic (that has come from the floor or from the committee). The Chairman looks for feedback from participants on who the next speaker should be and general feedback about the network itself. The meeting is followed by tea/coffee and a chance to network. All members are encouraged to participate if they can spare the time.

The incoming Chairman is elected at one of these formal meetings. He or she is elected from a pool of volunteers and a fresh face will be encouraged to come forward each time thereby rejuvenating the group every quarter.

Funding for BEN

Armed with statistical evidence gathered in the business survey, funding for the creation of the network was sought and approved under the Accel Business Training Programme and the Ballyhoura Enterprising Network came into place in January 2007. When this funding was finished, BDL provided support through the Local Development Social Inclusion Program and then the Rural Development Program.

Members of the network contribute €100 per annum towards the cost of running the meetings, the guest speakers and the joint marketing initiatives. New attendees are permitted to attend 2 meetings before having to make a commitment to join. As a member of BEN you will receive presentations beneficial to the running of your business so this €100 membership fee can be offset against tax as training.

Upcoming Meetings

  • 14th April: Venue Deebert House Hotel 8-9pm
  • 28th April: Venue Charleville Park Hotel 8-9pm
  • 12th May: Venue TBA 8-9pm
  • 26th May: Venue TBA 8-9pm
  • 9th June: Venue TBA 8-9pm
  • 23rd June: Venue TBA 8-9pm

Current Initiatives

  1. BEN Online – various marketing initiatives as a group on the web
  2. Press Release every month promoting members businesses
  3. Notices of BEN activity in all local papers
  4. Membership Drive - Email campaigns by the PR officer and recruitment via existing members
  5. Bulk text message reminder to existing and possible members re meetings

Structure of the Network

As BDL does not have the resources to operate every group it initiates, it was very important that the beneficiaries of the network took up the running of BEN. So once the first few meetings were organised the creation of the committee became the priority and from there the members would determine exactly how the network would be operated. The Committee has a Chairman, A Treasurer, A Secretary, A PRO and a vice-person for each position. BDL also invited the network to appoint a member to their Board of Directors. The rules governing the composition of the Committee and other procedures are laid out in the networks constitution to follow. The committee meets twice a quarter and focuses on how the network meetings should work, organizing guest speakers, instigating marketing initiatives that would benefit it’s members and updating rules as required.

The Chairmanship rotates, changing very three months. The Chairman will be responsible for organising the meetings and facilitating them on the day. The chair will be elected from a pool of volunteers and a fresh face will be encouraged to come forward each time thereby rejuvenating the group every quarter.

More About BEN

The formation of BEN was a Ballyhoura Development Ltd. (BDL) initiative. BDL had ongoing contact with reps from the business associations in the larger towns of Kilmallock, Mitchelstown & Charleville, but had no way of engaging regularly with businesses outside of that framework. So the network initiative arose after coming across a similar initiative in Westmeath. BDL spoke with Westmeath Community Development to see how the had started their group and then set about seeing if there would be interest in doing the same down here.

Owning a small business can be a lonely activity. That’s why the Ballyhoura Enterprising Network (BEN) was set up. Members of BEN have access to a wealth of experience and advice from small business owners throughout North Cork and East Limerick.