• 1: Home
• 3: About Us
  • 3.1: Townsend People
  • 3.2: Board of Directors
    • 3.2.1: Stanley Wallace
    • 3.2.2: Colin Skillen
    • 3.2.3: Gerry Faloona
    • 3.2.4: Dr Frances Hill
    • 3.2.5: Dr Paul Darragh
    • 3.2.6: Heather Murray
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• 4: Services
  • 4.1: Managed Workspace
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  • 4.7: ICT Advice
  • 4.8: Consultancy
• 5: Business Support
  • 5.1: Enterprise Development Programme
    • 5.1.1: EDP Case Study
  • 5.2: The Growth Programme
  • 5.3: Exploring Enterprise Programme
    • 5.3.1: EEP Case Study
  • 5.4: Steps to Work
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• 6: Property
  • 6.1: Office Space
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• 7: Current Tenants
  • 7.1: Altmore IT Recruitment
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• 8: News
• 9: Events
• 10: Links
• 11: Contact Us

Enterprise Development Programme Case Study

Neil Lavery, Stoneage Records

I'll never forget listening to an EMI rep at a NIMIC (Northern Ireland Music Industry Committee) presentation when someone said to me, the only way to make it in the music business, whether a label or an act is to Do It Yourself.  I decided there and then that if I wanted my music to be heard then I needed to set up a label and promote it myself.

A few weeks later, I enquired at my Local Enterprise Agency and before I knew it I was at the Exploring Enterprise classes and then onto the Start A Business Programme.  During the courses there was a lot to take onboard, it was certainly comprehensive. By the end I felt I had all the knowledge at my disposal to start a business.  I even got a website built free of charge as part of the start a business programme.  I now have a website for my label which I can sell merchandise and music from www.stoneagerecords.co.uk.  The first album went live for sale on iTunes, eMusic and Rhaspody late 2007.  Its obviously a very exciting time for the label as well as the band - Canizares (www.canizares.co.uk) and I intend to sign up other acts as time goes by and with a bit if luck grow the business as much as possible.

I can't recommend the Start A Business Programme and Exploring Enterprise Programme enough.  It's given me the tools to make a career out of something that I love doing.  The rest as they say is up to me.

Neil Lavery
Stone Age Records (www.stoneagerecords.co.uk)
Canizares (www.canizares.co.uk)