Here is my suggestion to www.ideascampaign.ie (a campaign started by Aileen O’Toole aimed at providing constructive ideas to regenerate the Irish Economy, and boy do we need that!)

Business Owners Learning Group – sharing ideas and experiences Over the past two years a number of business owner managers in Galway have been meeting bi-monthly to share ideas and experiences and to motivate each other. The results have been astounding. We share business and personal challenges, discuss, brain storm and elicit concluding advice. A new group (from Galway & Clare) is now starting up with 10 owner managers committed to meeting over a 12 month period.

My proposal is to get groups like this started all over the country. I have a proposal document for a top level CEO group to start in Dublin ASAP. The groups are professionally organised and facilitated as this is critical to their success and longevity. These fees could be subsidised by state agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and CEB’s to soften the cost to members. I have mentioned it to EI already!

This is a proven initiative ready to roll out immediately. All it needs is promotion, endorcement and support from people who are highly respected by business owners (maybe this could be picked up by one of your advisory council members?). Financial aid (from state agencies or other) would be helpful but not critical as it has already been proven without it.

As you well know the brains of Irish business need to work together to overcome current and future challenges. This initiative has done and will do just that. I would be delighted to discuss further.

Kind regards,
Barry Walsh
Let’s hope they pick up on this so I can get the show on the road to recovery!Have a constructive week!