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Self-employment is perhaps the hardest career choice anyone can make. When you think of it, what employer would expect an employee to invest their savings in their business and work endless unsocial hours in the hope of getting paid at the end of it, and yet people still choose to start in self-employment – people who are self-drive, who want to work for themselves and who want to control their own destiny.
These are the people, or entrepreneurs, we are passionate about helping.
Located in South Tyrone in the heart of Northern Ireland, Dungannon Enterprise Centre’s primary aim is to simply help new businesses start up and to encourage existing businesses to expand.
Our mission states:
“to strengthen and grow our economy by encouraging economic development and supporting entrepreneurs to create and grow competitive, profitable and wealth generating enterprises”
How to do that? We provide support in many ways but is dependent upon the needs of the entrepreneur:
For a start, we are centrally located in Northern Ireland, within easy access to most parts of the largest markets - 40 minutes of Belfast and 2 hours from Dublin. Dungannon has a strong labour force, with particular skills in engineering, agri food processing and crafts. We boast some of the top education and training establishments in the UK, so the working population is both highly educated but also skilled.
If you are considering self-employment as a career choice, then we want to talk to you and see how we can help. All our meetings are confidential and discrete to ensure that your business idea is safe and that your plans proceed at the speed you want.
Dungannon Enterprise Centre (DEC) is a company limited by guarantee with charitable objectives (Company no. NI18557). Officially opened in 1991, it is the Local Enterprise Agency (LEA) for the south Tyrone area and mid Ulster.
The Enterprise Centre is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors made up of representatives of the local business community, voluntary sector and the local Council. The Enterprise Centre has a wealth of experience in the development of micro-businesses, in particular the provision of support for those who have already set up their own business. Since its formation, Dungannon Enterprise Centre has assisted more than 2,000 potential entrepreneurs to explore self-employment, many of whom started in business. Dungannon Enterprise Centre rents over 100,000 sq. ft. of commercial property at several sites including:
Dungannon Enterprise was registered as a charity on 22 March 2019 (Charity no. 107227) The Objects of Dungannon Enterprise Centre are to:
1) Promote urban and rural regeneration for the public benefit in the Dungannon and South Tyrone area and its environs (the “area of benefit”), by all or any of the following means:
a) creation of training and employment opportunities for the unemployed by the provision of workspace, buildings and/or land for use on favourable terms;
b) provision of financial assistance, technical assistance or business advice or consultancy in order to provide training and employment opportunities for unemployed or underemployed people in cases of financial or other charitable need through help: (i) in setting up their own business, or (ii) to existing businesses or to those considering establishing a business;
c) advancement of education, training or retraining for the public benefit, particularly among unemployed people.
2) Advance education for the public benefit by raising awareness and increasing knowledge of the importance of economic enterprise, entrepreneurship and enterprise sustainability, in particular among members of local community groups and young people.
3) The advancement of community development in the area of benefit and in particular the promotion of the community and voluntary sector for the benefit of the public by providing facilities, financial and other support and information to community and voluntary groups.
