Do you know a great business idea when you see it? Or do you ever think ‘why has no one ever thought of this before?’
A country Tyrone businessman launched his innovative new firm with help from the Go For It programme through Fermanagh & Omagh District Council. Not only that but he also received assistance from Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the entrepreneur behind easyJet.
The Go For It Programme is partly funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth and Jobs Northern Ireland (2014-2020) programme.
OmaRentals was McCann’s first venture in the early 2000s. It has since become one of Omagh’s leading property letting and management companies. During an Easter family break in 2017, he had a lightbulb moment. With many years of experience in property management, McCann came up with an idea to streamline the legal process of buying and selling a house. With over 100,000 residence sales per month, online conveyancing allowing vendors and buyers to compare the price of solicitors fees could completely change how houses are bought and sold.
Only days after entering, McCann heard that the idea was of interest to Sir Stelios. He went to London to a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitch the week after. McCann worked around the clock to flesh out his idea into a workable model to impress the panel. The work paid off as McCann found himself back in London. He was announced as one of five successful winners of the competition, securing £10,000 and the licence to use the “easy” name.
easyConveyance.com was officially born. It is a comparison website for home buyers and sellers to compare quotes based on price, location and customer rating. Users of the service can also track the progress of their sale or purchase.
The Go For It Programme is free of charge. The programme is delivered by a team of experienced business mentors, through Northern Ireland’s wide network of participating enterprise agencies. It provides expert advice and helps with developing a business plan to help turn ideas into a commercial enterprise. Providing advice on everything from accounts to marketing and business growth. They can help by mapping out a formal business plan and many people find it puts them on the path to progress. It gives them the confidence needed to start their own business.
Not all budding entrepreneurs are lucky enough to gain the backing of an angel investor like Sir Stelios, but many Go For It candidates find that their completed business plan is the essential tool that opens the door to other sources of funding and shows more traditional funders and banks that they’ve thought it all through and they really mean business.
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council spokesperson Kevin McShane said: “The Council has long recognised the vital contribution that small businesses make to our local economy. It has recently developed a number of business support programmes part funded by the Council, Invest Northern Ireland and the ERDF Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme Northern Ireland 2014-2020.
“As part of the Start Up Programme, this Council values the Go For It programme as a great vehicle. It helps to assist new businesses to set up and grow through free one-to-one business mentoring. We are delighted by Connor McCann’s innovative development of easyConveyance.com. His selection for the prestigious easy Start Up Entrepreneurs award presented by Sir Stelios himself.”
There’s a wealth of support and advice available through your local council. Why not Go For It and make a start?
If you have a business idea you’d like to develop or if you are thinking about starting a business call 0800 027 0639 or visit www.goforitni.com