Pictured at the Fresh Start seminar on Friday last were, from left: Ciarán Cullen (Assistant CEO, Waterford City Enterprise Board), Bill Rafter (CEO, Waterford City Enterprise Board), Brian OKane (Guest Speaker) and Bertie Rogers (Chairman, Waterford City Enterprise Board). | Photo: John Power
A ‘have to do’ attitude rather than a ‘can do’ approach shall see small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) doing their part to get Waterford moving positively again, according to the City Enterprise Board.
Speaking to The Munster Express following last Friday’s ‘Fresh Start Business Start-up’ seminar at the Tower Hotel, Ciarán Cullen said the SME sector included “the most important people in Ireland today”.
He added: “First of all, we were delighted with the turnout. We’d booked the room in the Tower expecting 30 and we ended up with 117 coming to the seminar, which more than justified holding such an event.
“We’re all operating in a vastly different market from what existed just a few short years ago. There are many who were once in full employment, very high earners in the professional classes at that, who are now out of work and anxious to get back into employment.
“That’s why I’d describe the mood in Waterford right now as being a ‘have to do’ attitude more so than a ‘can do’ attitude and it’s because of that, as opposed to what other local media might otherwise suggest, I firmly believe that we’re going to get out of the current difficulties.”
