Enniscorthy Test Town Challenge

Enniscorthy Test Town Challenge spearheads in Ireland.  Enniscorthy Enterprise & Technology Centre set up a Craft street to help rejuvenate Enniscorthy town centre. Enniscorthys Slaney Street is been changed for the month of December. Young people of Wexford are going to sell homemade Art and Crafts in Pop-up shops. Enniscorthy is one of ten UK and Ireland towns that will take part in one of Britain’s biggest regeneration challenges to help create a new wave of responsible young entrepreneurs, lower unemployment and simultaneously boost local regeneration.

TestTown 2015 will see 10 towns from every corner of the UK and Ireland host an enterprise challenge in town centre, with each town challenge tailored to local economic needs. Finalists from each town will then come together to compete in a national final with the winning business awarded the title of ‘UK & Ireland Towns Entrepreneur of the Year’ and a £10K Investment.

 

Mr. John Carley, the Director of Services of Wexford County Council, welcomed this innovative initiative and stated that the employment of young people in the town centre will be a great benefit to the local economy.

Enniscorthy’s TestTown activity is a training course designed for 18-30 year olds in a specific craft ( alongside master crafts people) as well as in business skills. Enniscorthy Chamber of Commerce is supporting the participants by securing property for the pop up shops. The aim is to develop business skills, confidence and entrepreneurial skills in these young people so that they may start their own business or become employed in the area. We would also hope that some of the master craft people might set up shop in some of the vacant premises in the town centre and boost local trading.

 

Enniscorthy Municipal District Manager, Mr. Padraig O Gorman stated “The TestTown 2015 Initiative” is an ideal opportunity to examine the regeneration potential of Enniscorthy, this would have specific relevance to the completion of both the Dublin Bypass and the Flood relief scheme”.

Jim Metcalfe, “When you’re at the start of your entrepreneurial journey, things can seem very daunting. This is equally true if you’re looking to take a business in a new direction. TestTown provides a stepping stone to trial new ideas but with a support system behind you”.

 

“We are looking forward to monitoring the results of this year’s programme and wish Enniscorthy the very best of luck with their event.  We hope that as well as helping local town centres think about innovative ways to boost local trading, we can also encourage our entrepreneurs of tomorrow to make that bold step towards becoming their own boss.”

 

Example of Enniscorthy Test Town Challenge shops and the participants:

Liam is a freelance artist who specialises in painting but dabbles in other mediums too.  He likes to explore different methods of expression by using unusual and unique materials which give interesting textures to his work.  For example he is currently experimenting with tea stains. This course and experience will help him concentrated on honing his skills and building his portfolio.

Gach Lá –  A range of crafts for sale, such as Awesome Knitwear and knitted items, Heavenly Natural Body Products, Boutique Candles, Lavender Products, Mad Pots, Fairy Doors, Hand crafted Jewellery, Patchwork, Wooden gifts, Pottery plus lots more.

Gach Lá  are also holding workshop to encourage crafts such as Tee Shirt Painting, Salt Dough Decorations, Salt Dough Jewellery, Decorate your Fairy Door, Make Mr Snowman, Wool Dollies, Pine Cone Figures/Decorations, Christmas Angels and decorations agus a lán rudaí eile.

The times and dates of these will be in the following url: https://www.facebook.com/GachLa/?fref=ts

They also hold plan to hold a number of Therapies sessions such as Reflexology, Food Sensitivity Testing, Reiki/Seichem, Energy Healing, Indian Head Massage, Card Readings and Access Energetic Facelift, Vouchers for any of the treatments are available in shop. All appointments can be booked through our Facebook page Gach Lá

 

The other craft shops range from an Ironmonger; to an interactive craft shop where children can make their very own dolls; two gift Christmas shops, a pottery shop and a range of different arts & crafts.