Something for Limerick & Clare Businesses to Smile About - SMILE Resource Exchange Event

08 November 2011

Are you looking for new business opportunities or do you want to save money for your business? If the answer is yes, SMILE Resource Exchange invites you to join other businesses from all over Limerick and Clare on Wednesday 23rd November for a free networking event in The Radisson Blu Hotel, Limerick.  Based on the concept that "one's waste could be another's resource", this business event will encourage the sharing and exchanging of resources in order to reduce costs and help the environment.

SMILE (Saving Money through Industry Links and Exchanges) Resource Exchange, an initiative developed to help create mutually beneficial partnerships between businesses, last month announced its expansion into Limerick, as well as Clare and Kerry, and the upcoming event marks this positive development.  SMILE Resource Exchange is sure to give Limerick businesses and organisations lots to "smile" about this autumn, as it works with them to foster partnerships that allow them to exchange re-usable resources, and in doing so, save money, reduce waste going to landfill and to develop new business opportunities.

As places are limited, registration is essential for the free event on November 23rd, which runs from 8.45am to 2pm (lunch is included) in The Radisson Blu on the Ennis Road, Limerick - visit www.smileexchange.ie to register today.  Attendees will have opportunities to learn more about SMILE Resource Exchange, identify potential partnerships through facilitated networking sessions, and hear first-hand some interesting case studies of businesses already saving money through environmentally friendly practices.

SMILE Resource Exchange is project managed by Macroom E and is supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Limerick/Clare/Kerry Regional Waste Management Office; and Limerick County and City Enterprise Boards; as well as Clare County Enterprise Board; Kerry County Enterprise Board; Cork County and City Enterprise Boards; and Cork County and City Councils; in the other regions it is active in.

Commenting on the expansion and upcoming event, Margaret Murphy from the Limerick/ Clare/ Kerry Regional Waste Management Office said "Since its inception, SMILE Resource Exchange has identified over 1,000 potential matches between businesses as well as identifying thousands of euros of cost savings for businesses, and at our most recent event in Kerry, 160 potential exchanges were identified among 50 businesses in attendance; and now we're really looking forward to progressing even further in Limerick." 

Speaking about the resources available to businesses through SMILE Resource Exchange, Ned Toomey from Limerick County Enterprise Board said "All resources offered through SMILE Resource Exchange are either free of charge or below market value.  At the upcoming event, as well as through the website and support team, businesses can identify resources they would like to exchange such as reusable items, by-products and surplus products."

Eamon Ryan from Limerick City Enterprise Board is looking forward to the upcoming event and is enthusiastic about the initiative: "SMILE Resource Exchange proactively supports businesses, and joins enterprise and environment together in a unique and innovative way; and we are looking forward to welcoming lots of new members at our first Limerick event on November 23rd, and are encouraging businesses from all sectors to come along and find out more."

Former GAA commentator, Micheál Ó' Muircheartaigh is delighted to support the expansion of SMILE Resource Exchange and is encouraging businesses to get involved: "Munster is a province steeped in a strong sporting tradition, and successes achieved are often attributed to the practice of teams coming together as Divisional sides to play in the County Championships for the betterment of the game in general.  But it is also a region that is synonymous for business people working together to achieve results that are second to none."  He added "It's important to maintain this reputation; now more than ever we need to continue working together - remember ‘Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine', which means that working together, wonders can be achieved.  I'm proud to be associated with SMILE Resource Exchange's expansion, and through this initiative we can help businesses share resources, enhance the environment and create better business practices."

The upcoming SMILE Resource Exchange event is free and open to entrepreneurs and businesses from all sectors looking for potential business opportunities.  To register for the event on Wednesday 23rd November, or for further information on SMILE Resource Exchange visit www.smileexchange.ie or call (026) 20520.