Bank of Ireland Launches Free Online Training Course for Start-up and Small Businesses

Pictured at the launch of Bank of Ireland's free Online Training Course for Start-up and Small Businesses are Brian O'Kane, Oak Tree Press and Jennifer Caffrey, Business Marketing Manager, Bank of Ireland Business Banking

Bank of Ireland has today (Friday 30 November 2007) launched an online training course especially designed for those considering starting or already managing a small business. Accessed on www.bankofirelandstartupcourse.com, it is a free, web-based course, providing information and advice on setting up and managing a business. It was developed in conjunction with Brian O'Kane, one of Ireland's leading business start up experts and is the first training course of its kind to be offered by an Irish bank. is the first training course of its kind to be offered by an Irish bank and was developed in conjunction with Brian O'Kane of Oak Tree Press, who is one of Ireland's leading business start-up experts.

According to Damian Young, Head of Small Business in Bank of Ireland Business Banking: "Based on our business start-up barometer, we estimate that approximately 20,000 new businesses will be established in 2008. Whilst many of these are likely to be successful, a proportion will falter. From our experience, one of the most commonly cited reasons for business failure is lack of management expertise. Our small business customers have told us that they would have benefited from training on specific areas when they started out, such as the formalities associated with starting a business and how to write a business plan. However, for most new businesses, they find it difficult to find the time - and the money - to attend training courses".

The Bank's online course consists of six modules, which include defining a business strategy, marketing products/services, preparing financial accounts and writing compelling business plans. In addition, it provides key information on 20 of the most popular new business types in Ireland today, including childcare, property management and software development. On completion of the on-line registration the user will receive an email each day for the following six days, with each email containing a link to a module of the course.

"The benefit of this course is that start-up business owners can access it for free, in their own time. The course is equally relevant for small business owners who have been in business for some time and would like to get information relating to specific industry sectors or to brush up on their marketing and business planning abilities", said Brian O'Kane.

The launch of the training course further supplements Bank of Ireland's commitment to start-up and small businesses in Ireland. Bank of Ireland was the first Irish bank to introduce:

- ENDS -

Contact:
Anne Mathews
Group Corporate Communications
Bank of Ireland
Ph. 00 353 1 604 3836 or 00 353 87 246 0358

About Bank of Ireland Business Banking
Bank of Ireland has the most comprehensive Business Start-Up package available to new businesses, featuring a business current account that has a range of banking services free of charge for two years, and a suite of internal and external offers specifically tailored for the new enterprise. The Bank provides over 100 loans daily to the SME sector and currently approves in excess of 87% of all small business lending applications, with half of all applications getting an immediate decision in the branch, and the other half within 24 hours. In addition, Bank of Ireland is the only financial institution that will lend up to €25,000 to these companies without security. The Bank's service is delivered through a network of over 600 business bankers, including a business advisor in every one of our 270 branches nationwide.