Trinity Business School’s new executive programme

Posted on: 11 September 2015

Bank of Ireland has announced that it will sponsor the ‘Trinity International Growth Programme, in partnership with Bank of Ireland and the British Irish Chamber of Commerce’, a bespoke executive education programme for senior executives in SMEs across the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The course is a joint initiative from Bank of Ireland Business and Corporate Banking in the Republic of Ireland and Bank of Ireland UK and the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, and is being designed by Trinity Business School for senior executives in SMEs across the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The course is aimed at executives who are looking to scale their business via export.

The ‘Trinity International Growth Programme, in partnership with Bank of Ireland and the British Irish Chamber of Commerce’ will run over three years, and will involve twenty firms in year one.

Programme participants will receive intensive classes, case study sessions, seminars, guest talks and workshops. A key attribute of the programme is the mentored project where participants will be able to translate their learning from the programme into a value added commercial outcome for their business. Each participant will work on an export and scaling based project for their business in a way that would have tangible and measurable benefit for their business.

Richie Boucher, CEO, Bank of Ireland said: “As Ireland’s No 1 Business Bank, and the main provider of new lending to the business market, Bank of Ireland is delighted to sponsor this new executive education programme aimed at business. We are playing a significant role in both Ireland and the UK’s economic growth, supporting businesses looking to start or expand their operations. Our sponsorship of this new education programme adds to our range of supports for business, and continues a long association with both Trinity College Dublin and the British Irish Chamber of Commerce.  The economic links between Ireland and the UK are extremely important to both countries, and it is our hope that this education programme will support, and deepen, these links.”

Professor Andrew Burke, Dean of Trinity Business School said “Once the preserve of large multi-nationals, international expansion has become the norm for high-performing SMEs. Developing a leadership position in a segment of the international market and then using this as a bridgehead for further global expansion is one of the lessons that we will be implementing on this programme.  Helping business to go global is also an area that Trinity Business School has worked actively in for many years. So we are delighted to be joining with Bank of Ireland and the British Irish Chamber of Commerce in launching this programme specifically designed for SMEs seeking new market entry opportunities abroad”.

Aidan Lynch, President British Irish Chamber of Commerce and VP & General Manager, GSK, said: "As the pre-eminent voice of Trade between Britain and Ireland, the British Irish Chamber of Commerce welcomes this important partnering with Bank of Ireland and Trinity Business School. The businesses selected from the two islands for this programme will benefit from the Chamber's extensive networks and the experience of our membership, increasing investment and jobs. From a regulatory, cultural and of course a language perspective, Britain is more like the next county than the next country.   The value of trade flowing between Britain and Ireland is over €1 billion each week, Britain is Ireland's largest two-way trading partner, with 42% of indigenous Irish exports going to the UK and over €17 billion of UK goods going to Ireland annually.   For first time Irish exporters, Britain is the best market and likewise for enterprises exporting from GB or Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland is an excellent choice."

The programme will be launched in the coming months and the first participants will commence study in Q1 of 2016 at Trinity Business School's newly appointed executive education facility.   Information for potential applicants will be available on the websites of Trinity Business School, Bank of Ireland and the British Irish Chamber of Commerce.