The popular ‘Plato’ peer-to-peer support business platform has attracted a record number of group leaders on board from multinationals in Ireland to help small business owners, ahead of the next programme roll-out in January 2016.

Microsoft, IBM, Ericsson, Pfizer and Dell are among the companies participating in Plato Dublin, where group leaders from big businesses ‘partner up’ with up to 80 owners of small Irish firms to provide management expertise and advice.

Supported by the four Local Enterprise Offices in the Dublin Region, Plato is also running in eleven other European countries. Eighteen group leaders have now signed up for the 18-month programme, which is the highest number in over ten years.

Recent research carried out by DCU Business School for Plato Dublin indicated that over 90% its participants credited the programme with better preparing them for planning specific management practices.

The application stage for the next the next Plato Dublin programme opens in January, with details available through the Plato website.

In Association with

Insight

According to Marion Walshe, regional manager for Plato Dublin, the programme’s group leaders bring great insight and experience with them to pass onto smaller businesses.

“Our survey also shows that small business owners are responding to peer-to-peer support, reporting increases in turnover, productivity and performance, through the Plato programme.”

With the help of group leaders from Bank of Ireland, DCU, Ulster Bank, ESB, Electric Ireland, and CRS Pharma Solutions, the programme encourages owners to develop an objective view of their business, sharing advice, ideas and information with other business owners facing similar issues.

The programme is open to all businesses located in Dublin that have been trading for at least two years. Each participating parent company releases its executives on a part-time basis to serve as Plato group leaders, providing guidance and support to owner managers.

Groups meet once a month for a three-hour meeting and an advanced group is available for those seeking more mentoring after completing the initial 18-month stint.

(from left) Plato participant John Tobin of Mashup Media; Stuart Parkinson, Plato group facilitator and consultant in the IT industry; Marion Walshe, regional manager, Plato Dublin; Plato group facilitator, Michael Dowd, Ericsson