Pictured at the launch of a regular business slot each Wednesday afternoon during David Sloan’s programme are l-r Joe McCormack, Editor and Publisher of the Business Bulletin and Director of CORE-VISION Ltd., Lisa Flavelle, Training Director Belfast 89 FM and Mike Gaston also from Belfast 89FM.

The first slot on Wednesday last focussed on the contribution that the over 50s can make to economic development in Northern Ireland – and everywhere else for that matter. There are many over 50s out there who have either retired early, have been made redundant or are at a loose end for whatever reason.

Many of these have mature skills, probably a specialist skill or expertise and most important of all, life experience to enable them to take on a new project. Taken together with enthusiasm, self sufficiency and self confidence, this cocktail can be turned into a business project.

The programme explored how this cohort might be encouraged to make their move and in the coming weeks, the process will be explored in some more detail.

It is well recognised that “Silver Entrepreneurs” generally have given more thought and consideration to the possibility of business start up prior to making the decision to participate in a Business Start Workshop or training course than their younger counterparts tend to do.  This means that this group come to the table in a more thoughtful, prepared and committed way.

Moreover, Silver Entrepreneur groups to have lower formal educational levels than their younger counterparts – mainly as they would have completed their formal education at a time when access to third level education was not common – the more mature groups demonstrate that they have accumulated a range of skills which are not commonplace among younger age groups.