FORTY businesses in the Strabane area have been helped to 'Think Big' by Strabane Council, co-funded through the European Union Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme.

The Think Big initiative, delivered by Business in the Community, aims to enhance the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by tackling their specific challenges.

Companies such as INVISTA Textiles (UK) Ltd, Northbrook Technology Ltd, Bank of Ireland, Fleming Agri, Richmond Centre and The First Trust brought their expertise to the assistance of smaller indigenous businesses helping improve their efficiency and sales volumes.

With advice on everything from recruiting staff to creating a marketing strategy, participants received a range of advice and mentoring to build their businesses. Some of the small businesses were glowing in their praise of the mentors and what it has helped them to achieve including the creation of new jobs in their company and increased production.

Geraldine Stafford, who manages the initiative of behalf of the Council, said, "We are excited about the success that the Think Big business support initiative has brought to our local companies. Feedback from the participants is extremely positive and clearly demonstrates that tailored mentoring is a very successful method of business support."

For more information contact Jennifer Neff at Business in the Community on (028) 7186 1550 or Geraldine Stafford, Economic Development Manager, Strabane District Council.

For more information on Business in the Community, visit our website www.bitcni.org.uk