Sinn Fein Mayor Cllr Elisha McCallion

DERRY City and Strabane District Council have launched a specialist mentoring programme for 12 digital companies in the district, under the Growing the Digital Economy programme.

The aim of the Peer to Peer programme is to help grow the digital sector by providing specialist support, allowing participants to access expertise, gain inspiration, innovate as well as develop new collaborations and joint projects.

The Growing the Digital Economy programme is run by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for N. Ireland.

Launching the first in a series of three Mentoring sessions in the North West Regional Science Park, Mayor Elisha McCallion said:“I am delighted to welcome 12 digital entrepreneurs to the first session of the Growing the Digital Economy Programme’s Peer to Peer Initiative.

“Our aim with this programme has been to accelerate the growth of the digital economy in Derry/Strabane recognising that the digital economy and creative industries are key growth sectors of the city region and building upon the investment to date.”

Andy McDonald, Business Development Manager at NI Science Park said:“The North West Regional Science Park is delighted to be hosting this Digital Initiative.

“As a Science Park we are a peer-driven network aimed at supporting knowledge based entrepreneurs, investors and global corporations through our agile, connected space, our NISP Connect suite of programmes and our HALO business angel network.

“We welcome these digital entrepreneurs to our facility and look forward to welcoming them to our greater community.”

The Peer to Peer initiative is run in collaboration with Intergrity NI and about promoting the development of collaboration within digital clusters and improving the interfaces between the business, research, science and technology base.  Julie Taylor, founder of Integrity NI and Peer to Peer programme manager explains.

“This Initiative had been designed to introduce these entrepreneurs to a wide range of digital experts both locally and nationally. We have devised a packed programme with masterclasses, networking, mentoring and site visits – which will enable our participant companies to access expertise, gain inspiration and innovate and so help grow the digital economy here in the North West.”

Register now for the series of ongoing Bootcamps, Concept Clinics and Digital Derry conference which are also offered under the Growing the Digital Economy Programme visit

www.getinvited.to/digitalderry

To find out how to sign up and for more information on all the support available through the Growing the Digital Economy Programme go to www.derrycityandstrabanedistrict.com/growdigital or contact Rosalind Young  on Tel 028 71253253.