Communities Creating Jobs

1. Communities Creating Jobs Presentation to Western regional development conference by Ivan MCPHILLIPS Gmit school of business 17th July, 2015

2. Introduction to Communities Creating Jobs (CCJ) • Communities Creating Jobs (CCJ) was established in November 2011 • Established as a national/international community enterprise network by Dr Senan Cooke, Dunhill Rural Enterprises Ltd. and Carberry Enterprise Group, Skibbereen • Aims to establish a shared learning network to develop ideas, solutions, best practices, enabling tools, site visits and other information critical to enterprise start-ups

3. Communities Creating Jobs (CCJ) • CCJ is a movement of ordinary people based throughout Ireland who wish to do something positive and innovative on a voluntary basis to address the twin issues of unemployment and involuntary emigration • CCJ is all about communities using their own assets to stimulate enterprise and job creation - even in a small way • Over 70 member community organisations • Significant patron support

5. Job creation in our communities • CCJ recognises the importance of social and cultural issues • CCJ does not undervalue sporting achievements and the benefits of music and drama • CCJ does this by focusing on all available resources in the community, private sector and state sector. • They facilitate the creation of small scale employment opportunities in villages, towns and cities throughout Ireland

6. Introduction to GAA/CCJ/GMIT initiative • In 2014, a joint initiative was formed between CCJ and the GAA Rural Communities Work Group at national level in a bid to create 10 new jobs for GAA members in every GAA Club in Ireland by 2020 • The National GAA Rural Communities Workgroup was established by Liam O’Neill, former President of the GAA, and is chaired by Joe McDonagh, former President of the GAA and current CEO of the Mayo, Leitrim, Sligo Education and Training Board

7. Collaborative Partnership • National GAA Community Development Urban and Rural Work Group • Galway GAA County Board • CCJ • GMIT • SCCUL Enterprises Galway • Galway has been selected as the first county for this national initiative and commenced in April 2015 • Enterprise-Goal is the name chosen for this initiative • Six GAA clubs from Tuam, Ballinalsoe, Galway city and Connemara Gaeltacht areas are in the pilot phase

8. Enterprise- Goal Galway Steering Group • Noel Treacy, Chair, Galway GAA County Board • John Hynes. CEO, Galway GAA • Joe McDonagh, National Chair, National Community Development - Urban and Rural • Gerry Larkin, Member, National Community Development- Urban and Rural • Tom Farrell, Croke Park • Senan Cooke, CCJ • Deirdre Lusby, GMIT • Ivan McPhillips, GMIT • Michael Smith, SCCUL Enterprises Limited

9. GMIT • GMIT is providing training to facilitators to use the CCJ Assets and Opportunities Audit that has been developed by CCJ and LIT • The Facilitators will come from GAA clubs and local areas • GMIT is providing enterprise training to participants with support from CCJ • The training will be free and open to all

10. The GMIT/GAA/CCJ Collaboration • We are opening up a new mainstream economic development initiative through social and community enterprise • We are piloting a model which will be reshaped for replication all over the country • This initiative harnesses the GAA as a vehicle to develop more enterprises in our communities

11. Aim of Enterprise-Goal Initiative • To stimulate indigenous enterprises for our club members and our communities through identifying possible job creation projects

12. Target Participant Groups in our Club Areas • Our club members/supporters with/without a business idea • People from our community working in full-time/part-time-employment wishing to create employment • Owners and managers of small businesses who may wish to expand/diversify and create jobs in our community • Community/voluntary sector members in our community with/without a business idea • Farming community

13. Why is this initiative innovative? • Individualised Facilitation Programme for each club • Practical projects being identified • Enterprise-Goal Network to be established in each area • Focus on our members and supporters to help create jobs for themselves and others • Pro-bono individualised mentoring programme for selected projects with SCCUL Enterprises • Links with Development Agencies: Enterprise Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Galway Local Enterprise Office, LEADER • Programme delivery as Gaeilge in Gaeltacht regions

14. Facilitation Delivery • Facilities will be provided at club/community level and in GMIT • Chosen methodology will be face-to-face workshops with 8/10 people from our club/community

15. Facilitators and our clubs • The facilitators will have up to 5 sessions with each particular club over a 3 month period and complete the Assets and Opportunities Audit • After the Assets and Opportunities Audit has been completed, it is hoped that 2 or 3 enterprise projects will have been identified to progress to the business planning stage. • Enterprise training workshops will be provided by GMIT staff and other experts in the following areas: Feasibility studies, Market Research, Business Planning, Marketing and Business Finance, Enterprise agency supports for new business, Management, Intellectual Property and Legal Structures • Application for grant aid and other supports • Our target is 10 jobs per club by 2020

16. How the participants benefit • Tailor-made training in their communities provided by GMIT enterprise development staff and other experts • Membership of an Enterprise-Goalnetwork in their local area and in the county • Networking with Enterprise Ireland, ÚdarásnaGaeltachta, Galway Local Enterprise Office, LEADER companies • Enterprise mentors by a panel of pro-bono experts provided by SCCUL Mentors and other bodies • Motivational sessions with CCJ, GAA and other invited guest speakers • Liaison with GMIT and other Staff • Access to GMIT facilities • Mutual support

17. How will our local clubs and communities benefit? • Developing expert knowledge • Provision of facilities, skills and knowledge in a local context • Creation of an Enterprise-Goalnetwork at a local and county level • Establishment of small enterprises in our communities • Fostering an enterprise culture throughout our communities

18. How will our local clubs and communities benefit? • Take-up of Enterprise Support Programmes provided by Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices,Údarás na Gaeltachta, LEADER companies and Department of Social Protection • Capacity building for local enterprise development • Keeping our communities and clubs alive and strong • Decreasing the levels of emigration/migration in our communities • Linking with our diaspora and encouraging them to come home and create jobs in our communities

19. Proposal to Government • That a Community and Social Enterprise Development Council and Unit called Community Enterprise Ireland be established under the remit of the Minister for Rural Affairs • The Council’s terms of reference could be: • To stimulate greater awareness about Community and Social Enterprise and their potential for job creation • To identify the needs of Community Enterprise, Social Enterprise and in particular Worker Co-operatives • To provide grant aid, training and other supports for viable community and social enterprises

20. A final thought… ‘Communities are sustained by institutions that are locally controlled and embody the social values and economic forms that reinforce community life’ (Restakis, 2010:128) Source: Restakis, J., (2010), Humanizing the Economy: Co-operatives in the Age of Capital, New Society Publisher, Canada.

21. Go RaibhMaithAgaibh For further information please contact: Ivan McPhillips Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Rural Development, School of Business, GMIT, Dublin Road, Galway, Tel: 091-742608 (Office) 087-9040958 (Mobile) Email: ivan.mcphillips@gmit.ie