Ex SEEPP participants, MIT Education Solutions, who now have over 50 customers using their technologies throughout Ireland and Europe, have successfully completed a rollout of their online enrolment, online payment, and admissions management solution to all schools and colleges in Co. Meath VEC.

The system allows adult students to apply and pay for evening classes online using the MIT eNROL system, and manages the entire admissions process for the colleges.

Seamus Ryan, Education Officer in Meath VEC said:

“The system (eNROL) has revolutionised the way we do our business, made it simpler for students to apply and pay,  and made it easier for us to manage our application and payment processes. The system provides class lists, enrolment statistics, financial reporting and reconciliation features, and provides us with an invaluable information management tool.”

Other customers of MIT Education Solutions include City of Cork VEC, Co. Carlow VEC, Co. Wicklow VEC, Co. Dublin VEC, City of Waterford VEC.

If you would further information please contact MIT at 051 357996 or info@mit.ie

The management and staff are currently interested in hearing from people with new business ideas who are starting scalable knowledge based businesses. Interviews will be held in June / July and August. One delegate from a qualifying company/start-up can apply for a position on SEEPP. The 2011-2012 programme will begin on September 19th.

This year long programme offers a wide range of supports to innovative start-up companies in the South East including:

• Comprehensive Business Management and Development training, leading to a fully-accredited Post Graduate Diploma in Enterprise Development
• Incubation Facilities in Arc Labs,  the WIT Research & Innovation Centre - dedicated desk space, desktop PC, VoIP telephony, meeting and videoconferencing facilities - all provided free of charge to qualifying participants
• Business Mentoring - experience mentor assigned to each participant for duration of the programme
• Business Networking - opportunities to meet and network with like-minded entrepreneurs, successful businesspeople, state agencies etc
• Financial Support - Participants are also eligible to apply to Enterprise Ireland for CORD funding, which allows participants claim up to 50% of their previous years salary (subject to a maximum of EUR30,000) There is no guarantee that CORD funding will be awarded to successful SEEPP applicants as CORD is administered by Enterprise Ireland and is subject to a separate application and interview process.

Applicants should ideally have:

• An innovative, well-thought out business idea or technology, with export potential and the ability to scale up relatively quickly. For example software development, e-learning, new media/entertainment, food, engineering, manufacturing, environmental/waste management, energy, medical devices, pharmaceuticals.
• Third-level education (minimum Diploma) - APEL may be considered here.
• High level of practical experience gained from working in a relevant professional environment
• The time commitment to setting up their business
• Intend to set up and register a business - ideally in the South East region. 

BUDDING entrepreneurs are being inspired by the successful business people of the past through a new site which celebrates innovation and success in the South-East region across several generations.

Business mentors at the Centre for Enterprise Development and Regional Economy (CEDRE) at Waterford Institute of Technology, have developed the www.southeaststories.blogspot.comsite which traces the roots of the bacon, ship-building, brewing and other key industries in the region.

The site also profiles the counties of the South-East and has a host of links to agencies and groups which support enterprise and job creation in the region.

It is fitting that, on the week we celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of the first man walking on the moon, we look back at some of our own South-East innovators and pioneers who contributed so much to the region, to Ireland and the rest of the World, according to CEDRE’s David Coffey.

“The South-East region has produced some truly enterprising and innovative people who made an enormous contribution to all walks of life. Although many of these people made a huge difference to the world around them, their contributions have not been highlighted enough.

“The aim of this site is to bring to light the many Stories and Tales of an Enterprising Place – the South-East and show appreciation and admiration for those who stepped up and made a difference. Among those we have already featured are the Jacobs, Dennys,  Walton, Ryan, Brophy, Malcolmson, Penrose, Boyle and Magnier.

“But these are just some of the more famous names that have shaped the landscape of the South-East. There are many more. We want to promote the rich enterprising history of the South-East; remember those who made a difference and hopefully encourage visitors to the site to be more enterprising and innovative in their own lives.

“We hope that those with information about the rich entrepreneurial heritage of the South-East region will share their stories on the site. We’ve already got articles about the bacon, ship building and brewing industry, but we want much more. We want to create an online museum, one which celebrates the great South-East innovators of the past and also supports and encourages pioneers of the future.

“Those in business or thinking of starting up businesses in the region will find a host of links to other key sites, such as the various chambers of commerce in the region, county councils, enterprise boards etc. We hope the success stories of the past will spur today’s entrepreneurs to emulate their amazing feats,” Mr. Coffey added.

The EI Society has been established at Waterford institute of Technology to support students with innovative ideas, creative minds, and entrepreneurial aspirations. At present the society is based in WIT’s Research and Innovation Centre and is supported by the Centre for Enterprise Development and Regional Economy (CEDRE), under the guidance of Dr. Bill O’Gorman. The recent economic downturn has emphasised the need for regions, such as the South East, to create more home grown entrepreneurs. To do this, an entrepreneurial mindset needs to be cultivated in people as early as possible.

The EI Society will help transform the South East into a more enterprising region by encouraging students to think about self-employment, stimulating new student business and bridging the gap between enterprise support agencies and the student body. The society includes an eclectic mix of students from the main WIT campus, Carriganore campus and College Street Campus. As such, members are currently studying a variety of subjects ranging from music, to psychiatric nursing, to architecture, and of course business.

The EI Society website will offer students a platform to showcase their innovativeness and entrepreneurialism. It will also act as a hub for all news and events on campus and will contain a ‘mini ebay’ section for students of the institute. As such, www.eisociety.ie will become a melting pot for enterprise, creativity and action at WIT.

The society will officially launch next September with the site going live at the same time. Plans are already in place for a number of enterprise related events. So, hopefully the next crop of innovative South-East entrepreneurs are not too far away.