Donncha Hughes

Donncha Hughes

Trainer, Mentor and Startup Business Advisor - talk to me if you want to Grow your Business!

Ireland
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Donncha Hughes, Business Advisor

About

I specialise in working with technology and professional services SMEs and startups. I provide mentoring, hands on consultancy, and training to help promoters to grow their businesses.

My areas of expertise include: Business Plans, Grant applications, Networking, Business Strategy, Goal Setting, Market Research, Marketing and Sales, WordPress and supports for Business.

I graduated from NUIG with a Masters in Marketing. I worked for 18 months in a marketing role in a private hospital in Galway. I moved to Limerick to join IBEC where I worked for 7.5 years in Business Development and service delivery. We worked on behalf of major MNCs and Irish companies across many sectors. It was great to learn from CEOs and senior managers of over 500 companies.

I was delighted to be appointed Manager of Limerick Institute of Technology's on campus incubation centre in June 2006. Within 4 years the centre had reached capacity. Indeed, 3 companies (Episensor, ResourceKraft and Emutex) had moved out and subsequently created upwards of 50 jobs in Limerick. During my time in LIT, I worked with Graham Royce to create the very successful LEAP programme (forerunner of New Frontiers).

Since leaving LIT in 2010, I offer a niche training and mentoring service as a sole trader. I now work privately with clients and deliver mentoring, business advice and training programmes on Starting a Business, Marketing and Sales, Negotiations and New Frontiers.

My online training website features a growing number of training programmes : CSF Masterclass; New Frontiers Phase 2 Application Form; Financial Projections, Writing a Business Plan and Pitching (Free). Create a free account to access preview content.

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Experience

  • Mentor & Trainer

    Donncha Hughes, Business Advisor

    - Present 14 years 3 months

    Galway

    Working with promoters of startup and micro enterprise to grow their businesses. My areas of expertise are business planning, business plans, lean startup, financial projections, sales, marketing, market validation and business strategy.

    My key business services are:
    - Startup Business Training Workshops : New Frontiers, LyIT & IT Sligo and GMIT and WIT; and SYOB for LEOs such as Galway LEO.
    - Independent Evaluation: CSF Evaluation for Enterprise Ireland; and Seedcorn…

    Working with promoters of startup and micro enterprise to grow their businesses. My areas of expertise are business planning, business plans, lean startup, financial projections, sales, marketing, market validation and business strategy.

    My key business services are:
    - Startup Business Training Workshops : New Frontiers, LyIT & IT Sligo and GMIT and WIT; and SYOB for LEOs such as Galway LEO.
    - Independent Evaluation: CSF Evaluation for Enterprise Ireland; and Seedcorn Competition Evaluation for InterTrade Ireland.
    - Mentoring : LEOs, Enterprise Ireland and New Frontiers and Bizmentors.ie
    - Private Consultancy : Business Plans, Financial Projections and Tenders plus other business growth areas.

    I also provide training on WordPress as marketing clients generally need a well constructed website in terms of visual appeal, design, SEO and content to include blogs as part of their digital marketing strategy. I am an avid blogger.

  • Startup Digest Graphic

    Startup Digest Galway Curator

    Startup Digest

    - 6 years

    Galway

  • Head of Customer Relations

    Votechnik

    - 1 year 1 month

    Limerick

  • Limerick Institute of Technology Graphic

    Enterprise Acceleration Centre Manager

    Limerick Institute of Technology

    - 4 years 3 months

  • Business Development Executive

    Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC)

    - 7 years 6 months

Education

Licenses & Certifications

Publications

  • Guide to Self Employment in Ireland

    My Website

    Ten steps worth considering by anyone thinking of setting up a Self Employed Business in Ireland.

    See publication

  • Embracing the Challenges and Opportunities of Open Skies

    IBEC Mid West

    IBEC the business representative body representing SMEs and MNCs in the Greater West of Ireland region prepared this report following consultation with members on the potential impact of Open Skies on Shannon Airport. Up to that point, all flights to Ireland had a stopover in Shannon. This finished in March 2007. Subsequent studies in 2008 found that the introduction of Open Skies and the removal of the stopover decreased transatlantic traffic through Shannon by 40 per cent having a major…

    IBEC the business representative body representing SMEs and MNCs in the Greater West of Ireland region prepared this report following consultation with members on the potential impact of Open Skies on Shannon Airport. Up to that point, all flights to Ireland had a stopover in Shannon. This finished in March 2007. Subsequent studies in 2008 found that the introduction of Open Skies and the removal of the stopover decreased transatlantic traffic through Shannon by 40 per cent having a major negative impact on Tourism in the region.

    See publication

  • A Business Perspective on the Way Forward for the Mid-West

    IBEC Mid West

    IBEC as the business representative body in Ireland surveyed its members in order to prepare a lobbying document for the future of the Mid-West region of Ireland (Tipperary, Clare and Limerick) identifying key infrastructure and other investment priorities vital for business competitiveness for both the SME and multinational sector.

    See publication

  • Guide to Self Employment in Ireland 2023

    eBook on Kindle

    This newly updated and expanded 'Guide to Self Employment in Ireland 2023' will be of use if you have recently set up or are thinking of setting up a small business in Ireland as a Sole Trader, freelancer or contractor. You may be a graduate, or recently been made redundant, want a change of job, or may have spotted an opportunity to create a business perhaps inspired by a hobby, skill or passion. But you don't want the hassle or cost of setting up a company just yet. Welcome to self employment…

    This newly updated and expanded 'Guide to Self Employment in Ireland 2023' will be of use if you have recently set up or are thinking of setting up a small business in Ireland as a Sole Trader, freelancer or contractor. You may be a graduate, or recently been made redundant, want a change of job, or may have spotted an opportunity to create a business perhaps inspired by a hobby, skill or passion. But you don't want the hassle or cost of setting up a company just yet. Welcome to self employment where you conduct business as a sole trader!

    The eBook published for the Kindle is available for £0.99 - link on my website.

    The introduction identifies two major strands of activity to be managed by a new business owner; how the business is going to make money; and managing the business from a legal and compliance perspective.

    The first is how your business is going to make money. This involves figuring out who your customer is and what you are going to sell to them. So the question is what range of products or services can you provide that provides fantastic value to potential customers. Your ‘job’ is to find your first customers and deliver on your promises such that they pay you more money than it costs to provide the product or service.

    The second major strand of activity is managing the business from a legal and compliance viewpoint. This involves creating a legal structure, paying tax, registering for VAT, hiring employees and other items such as Insurance and Health & Safety.

    The ultimate success of your business depends on managing both these strands which will be covered in this guide - across 26 major headings - plus a new section on trading with the UK post Brexit. It is hoped that you find this GUIDE to be a useful checklist for action for your new business.

    Feedback and comment on my website and via social media is appreciated.

    See publication

Projects

  • Brexit Support Advisory Service for LEO Mayo

    - Present

    I have been asked by LEO Mayo to provide a Brexit Support Advisory Service to their client base in County Mayo over the coming weeks and months. As you know, LEO Mayo is the first stop enterprise support agency for the county’s indigenous micro-enterprise sector those employing less than 10 staff.

    The first objective is to formulate an up to date quantitative picture on the impact of and readiness for Brexit amongst the client base. We are distributing an Annual Employment Survey to LEO…

    I have been asked by LEO Mayo to provide a Brexit Support Advisory Service to their client base in County Mayo over the coming weeks and months. As you know, LEO Mayo is the first stop enterprise support agency for the county’s indigenous micro-enterprise sector those employing less than 10 staff.

    The first objective is to formulate an up to date quantitative picture on the impact of and readiness for Brexit amongst the client base. We are distributing an Annual Employment Survey to LEO Mayo clients.

    The second objective is to engage with the client base with the aim being to provide LEO Mayo with qualitative insight from businesses on the ground as to their readiness for Brexit. It is hoped that this will be of benefit to microenterprise in County Mayo. So you might get a call from me. In our chat we can for instance determine if you should create or review “An Action Plan for Brexit” (templates available covering issues to include Logistics, Customs, Compliance and Finance) and if specific Brexit supports offered by LEO Mayo and/or those detailed on the Prepare for Brexit website (www.prepareforbrexit.com ) are relevant to your business.

  • Board Member of YAP Ireland

    - Present

    I am a Board Director (pro bono) for YAP Ireland CLG. Funded by Tusla, YAP's vision is a society where all Young People and Families are connected with their communities. In early 2017, YAP Ireland published a Strategic Plan for 2017-2020. The mission was rewritten 'We change the lives of young people and families in need of support by providing community-based, strengths focused, inclusive, flexible services which improve their skills and capacity to meet their own goals'. I am proud to be…

    I am a Board Director (pro bono) for YAP Ireland CLG. Funded by Tusla, YAP's vision is a society where all Young People and Families are connected with their communities. In early 2017, YAP Ireland published a Strategic Plan for 2017-2020. The mission was rewritten 'We change the lives of young people and families in need of support by providing community-based, strengths focused, inclusive, flexible services which improve their skills and capacity to meet their own goals'. I am proud to be associated with YAP Ireland and hope to make a contribution to the Board over the three year term.

    See project

  • ReVolv - EC COSME Project

    The ReVolv project objectives are:
    (a) to demonstrate the Trumaster-ALR both technically and economically at commercial scale for treating LCDs
    (b) to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for the use of the technology for treating LCDs
    (c) to increase customer confidence in the technology performance at full scale and de-risk early adoption
    (d) to demonstrate the environmental benefits of the technology and reduce LCD stockpiling in Europe
    (e) to fully exploit the…

    The ReVolv project objectives are:
    (a) to demonstrate the Trumaster-ALR both technically and economically at commercial scale for treating LCDs
    (b) to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for the use of the technology for treating LCDs
    (c) to increase customer confidence in the technology performance at full scale and de-risk early adoption
    (d) to demonstrate the environmental benefits of the technology and reduce LCD stockpiling in Europe
    (e) to fully exploit the demonstration at full commercial scale in the project leading to widespread uptake of the technology by WEEE recyclers.

    Other creators
    See project

  • Specialist Advisory Supports Service for LEO Galway

    -

    I am delighted to announce that I will be working directly with LEO Galway during 2018 to proactively identify LEO clients in order to assist them to avail of the full range of enterprise supports provided to grow their businesses by Galway LEO and the wider entrepreneurship support environment. See my LinkedIn Pulse article for more detail.

    See project

  • Startup Galway Pitches Meetup

    -

    The Pitches Meetup met 15 times over nearly 2 years. It served its aim to be a forum for startups to practice their Pitches amongst friends (other startup founders, experienced startups and business people) and to learn about the supports available to startups in a practical way. The meetup group is now being managed by Startup Blink who hope to run regular networking events. Another notable Meetup group in Galway is WorkBench Wednesday which takes place in BOI WorkBench and meets on a monthly…

    The Pitches Meetup met 15 times over nearly 2 years. It served its aim to be a forum for startups to practice their Pitches amongst friends (other startup founders, experienced startups and business people) and to learn about the supports available to startups in a practical way. The meetup group is now being managed by Startup Blink who hope to run regular networking events. Another notable Meetup group in Galway is WorkBench Wednesday which takes place in BOI WorkBench and meets on a monthly basis in the evenings.

    Other creators
    See project

Organizations

  • Bizmentors.ie

    Member of Advisory Board

    - Present

    A Bizmentor providing pro-bono mentoring to startup and small business in Galway. Three one hour sessions over several months. Apply directly to Bizmentors.ie An Advisory Board member working with Executive Management to oversee: Strategy, Policy and Procedures, Future Development, Funding and Staffing. Exciting times as have secured Enterprise Ireland funding to expand into Mayo and Roscommon in 2017/18 - also assessing EU projects to roll out model.

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