SLNIW - Sustainable Learning Networks in Ireland and Wales

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Aber Car & Van Centre is a used car sales company situated at Glanyrafon Industrial Estate in Llanbadarn Fawr, on the outskirts of Aberystwyth.

The partners are Petra Lewis and Phil Gaunt.

The partnership was established 2 years ago as an extension of an existing garage repair business- Phil Gaunt Garage Repairs. Phil has 35 years experience in the motor industry and is a VW and Audi specialist. Petra has 30 years experience in admin and accounts both in the public and private sectors. The aim being to concentrate on sales and scale down the repair side.

There seemed to be an opening for a van centre in the Aberystwyth area, but we decided to stock a wide range of vehicles to cover all bases.

This has proved to be the right move.

There was already a customer base, but as the company has grown we now have old and new customers alike coming to us for the reliable service that Phil is known for.

The SLNIW project is for entrepreneurs and owner/managers of Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) and microenterprises in South East Ireland and West Wales. The project aims to increase the skill sets of these entrepreneurs by facilitating knowledge transfer between participants within networks: between Waterford Institute of Technology and Aberystwyth University and network participants; and between leading experts and network participants.

The network participants will learn through being exposed to a range of international expertise over the course of the project. They will learn how to analyse their company needs, direct their own learning within the network, and learn how to maximise the benefits of their network involvement in order to increase the competitiveness of their organisation in addressing and overcoming any challenges they face.

Through participant’s involvement with the network, the SLNIW project seeks to foster a sense of innovation and creativity. The SLNIW project aims to promote sustainability in the networks created to provide lasting benefits to the participants involved.

Having been equipped with the ability to perform comprehensive skills needs analysis, the SLNIW participants will have the capability to determine what they need to improve their respective businesses. Participants will be allowing themselves access to the problem solving skills of the other members of the network and knowledge will be shared to address the issues that arise for them.

Ultimately, the objective of the SLNIW project is to create more competitive regional economies in south east Ireland and west Wales by focusing on the development of SMEs and micro-enterprises in these areas in an innovative and creative way.

W.I.T. Contact: SLNIW, CEDRE, Carriganore, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland, 00 353 51 845681

Aberystwyth Contact: School of Management and Business, Aberystwyth University, Cledwyn Building, Penglais, Aberystwyth, Wales, SY23 3DD Tel: +44 (0) 1970 622506