The Derry and Strabane business community are being invited to attend a special engagement event to allow them to learn more about opportunities to get involved in and capitalise on the programming for the 2024 Foyle Maritime Festival.
The internationally renowned event will attract tens of thousands of people to the Council area when it returns to the city’s riverfront from Thursday 27th until Sunday 30th June 2024.
Unlocking Opportunities at the Foyle Maritime Festival at Da Vincis Hotel from 10am – 12.30pm on Wednesday May 8th will be compered by Journalist Jeananne Craig.
Officers from Council’s Festivals and Events team will give business owners and entrepreneurs in attendance an overview of the programme and members of Council’s Business and Tourism teams will give information on the support available to make the most out of the event.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from seasoned professional Mags McAlpine who will provide them with the tools, techniques and top tips to surprise and delight customers.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Patricia Logue, urged the local business fraternity to avail of the chance to learn more about the four day festival.
“Our City and District has a renowned reputation for hosting world class events where Council’s Officer Team work in partnership with our network of talented and innovative entrepreneurs to deliver a unique and unforgettable experience to those who attend,” she said.
“The Foyle Maritime Festival is the largest scale of those events and represents an opportunity for local businesses to showcase themselves on the international stage and capitalise on the tens of thousands of visitors and attendees it attracts every two years.
“This event is an ideal opportunity to drill into the details of the programme so the business community can work together with Council to deliver a joined up experience for those who attend and businesses can tailor their services to maximise the undoubted commercial opportunities the festival presents.”
After welcomes and introductions, members of Council’s Festivals and Events Team will present the full programme details of the festival before representatives from Visit Derry will give an overview of the event from a visitors perspective.
Council’s business and tourism teams will take part in a panel discussion about how they can support local businesses before Mag McAlpine’s Business Workshop entitled Creating Maritime Magic.
Mags is an award-winning professional Visual Merchandiser and business mentor with many years of experience in design, sales, window dressing, retail interiors and themed events.
In her workshop she will share top professional tips and give visual inspiration to businesses to help optimise the sales opportunities the festival presents by working on their brand and visual merchandising and creating a customer experience that compliments the event programming and ‘Beyond Blue’ theme.
The day will conclude at 12.30pm with a Q and A where businesses can connect with the panel and a networking lunch.
This event is fully funded as part of Go Succeed NI Business Support in Derry and Strabane.
Launched last year, Go Succeed represents a multi-million-pound investment in local entrepreneurs and businesses.
It provides a holistic approach to government support services with a focus on providing a tailored service to suit individual needs in a bid to foster enterprise across the region.
The service supports entrepreneurs, new starts and existing businesses with easy-to-access advice and support including mentoring, masterclasses, peer networks, access to grant funding and a business plan, at every stage of their growth journey.
For further information on the event and to register for one of the limited places visit https://dcsdcroadshow.glistrr.com/e/50.
For inquiries contact Council’s Business Support team on 028 71253253 or email [email protected].
For programming and updates on the Foyle Maritime Festival visit www.foylemaritime.com and share your experience on social media using the hashtags #BeyondBlue #foylemaritimefestival2024 #fmf2024
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