Programme Overview
The ASK Programme provides flexible, responsive support designed to increase the sustainability and growth potential of local small businesses.
By offering FREE one to one mentoring support it aims to enhance capability, solve issues or problems and encourage innovation through new technologies and the sharing of best practise.
Mentors are available right now to help your business. They are selected based on the business needs to enable them to share appropriate advice, skills and knowledge from a range of specialisms including:
| Specialism |
Examples of Support |
| Business Planning |
Health checks, strategic planning, plan development, funding |
| Marketing & Sales |
Effective/digital marketing, tendering/sales, visual merchandising |
| Market Research |
Researching current and new markets |
| Finance |
Planning and management, cash flow, pricing |
| Legal |
Legalities of running a business |
| IT |
Website design/development, digital & social media, systems |
| Process & Systems |
Human resource management, customer service |
| Import/Export |
New markets and suppliers |
| Innovation |
R&D, product development, innovation and linkages |
Businesses can initially access 5 hours free support, if required an additional 5 hours free support can be provided.
If additional support is required after the free hours have been utilised a further 10 hours can be provided and part funded by Council.
Council will pay 75% of the costs and the business 25%. The fee is £50 per hour therefore the cost to the business would be £12.50 per hour plus VAT. If all 10 hours support are required the total cost would be £125 plus VAT.
Who Can Apply?
Small to medium sized businesses with a registered business address in the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council area.
Apply Now
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For Further Details Contact:
Economic Development Project Officer
Terms and Conditions
The ASK programme is funded by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and is available to new start-up or existing businesses with a registered business address in the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council area.
Businesses can initially access 5 hours free support, if required an additional 5 hours free support can be provided.
If additional support is required after the free hours have been utilised a further 10 hours can be provided and part funded by Council.
Mentoring in excess of the 10 hours free support will be reviewed by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council staff and must demonstrate real business need.
Council will pay 75% of the costs and the business 25%. The fee is £50 per hour therefore the cost to the business would be £12.50 per hour plus VAT, if all 10 hours support are required the total cost would be £125 plus VAT. Businesses must pay their contribution before mentoring will be given.
Mentoring is allocated on a per business basis.
All mentoring must be completed before the programme end date.
Only mentors approved by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council will be used in the mentoring process.
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council will not accept liability for advice given by independent advisers.
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