Facebook has today launched its Irish SME Council, as part of the company’s European-wide strategy to help support small and medium sized businesses throughout Ireland.
 
The Irish SME Council brings together Facebook's SME team and Irish business owners from a range of industries in a partnership designed to provide better digital tools for all businesses to grow. It comprises a community of Irish SMEs, from well-known brands to more specialist businesses, who understand and embrace digital and mobile strategies.  
 
The council will meet a minimum of twice a year to discuss successes and challenges, business ideas, solutions and progress achieved using the Facebook platform. It will also allow Irish businesses to provide feedback that directly influences Facebook products to better help businesses grow.
 
The Irish SME Council joins SME Councils in North America, Germany, Italy, UK, India and Brazil. 
 
Members of the Irish SME Council so far include: 
Appassionata Flowers 
Aran Sweater Market 
Boutique Bake 
Burren Perfumery 
Folkster 
Kerrigan’s Craft Butchers 
Lennon Courtney 
Life Style Sports 
Magee of Donegal 
Obeo 
Ronan Cullen Flooring 
Strong Roots 
Well Nice Pops
 
Speaking at the launch, Vice President of Small and Medium Sized Business in EMEA at Facebook, Ciaran Quilty said, "Facebook is delighted to be launching an SME Council here in Ireland. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, they drive economic growth and new jobs. Digital strategies, in particular mobile, can help businesses grow, and with 43 million people in other countries connected to an Irish business on Facebook, the global market has never been closer to our SMEs."

He added, "Through listening, learning and having a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing businesses, the council will give us a better understanding of how we can help them grow."
 
Source: www.businesssworld.ie