Dragon’s Den star Peter Casey aims to motivate local entrepreneurs during Enterprise Week

Well-known TV Dragon Peter Casey will be a keynote speaker during what is the North West’s most popular business event – Enterprise Week – which runs from 5-9 March, led by Derry City and Strabane District Council. Derry native Peter Casey attended Nazareth House PS and St Columb’s College, and is CEO and Chairman of Claddagh Resources – a global recruitment and search firm that operates in four continents and places high-level executives with many of the world’s Fortune 500 companies. Having established successful business interests in Australia and Ireland, Peter set up Claddagh Resources in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1995. The European headquarters of Claddagh Resources is in Buncrana, Donegal, and Peter lives in Atlanta, with his wife Helen and five children – returning to Ireland at least once a month. Speaking ahead of addressing this year’s ‘GROW Entrepreneurship Festival’ which is a part of Enterprise Week 2018, Peter Casey said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak to – and hopefully inspire – young entrepreneurs and more established firms alike from Derry and the North West during this year’s Enterprise Week. “During my address I will be talking about various aspects of business – including how to interview people, how to actually motivate people, and how to manage people in order to help local entrepreneurs improve the efficiencies of their business. “Every business has to be unique – so I will also be encouraging people to think more about what makes their business different from their competitors. Indeed, I will be focusing on what is the ‘differentiator’ between themselves and their major competitor – and encouraging entrepreneurs to work on that to become the number one in their space. “Importantly, if you haven’t got passion then you shouldn’t be in business – it’s what it’s all about! Passion is contagious – it’s like a virus – if you have it, your staff will have it, if you don’t have it, your staff won’t have it. So I will be stressing that it is critical for local firms to hire people who are passionate and that they themselves are passionate about their business objectives. “I will also be encouraging and motivating people to take the plunge if they are thinking about starting their own business – and encouraging more established firms to think more – or differently – about their business ideas. Indeed, that’s what we need in Derry and the wider North West more than ever before. “I am therefore really looking forward to meeting up with local businesses and offering them reassurance and advice which I hope will help them to succeed!” Business Development Manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Louise Breslin said: “I am really delighted that Peter Casey will be a keynote speaker during this year’s Enterprise Week – and will be providing an ‘inspirational’ real-life insight into the world and practice of business. “Peter has forged a pathway to global success with Claddagh Resources – and will be revealing some secrets which have helped to propel him to the top of his industry. “If you have a business idea but just lack the nerve to take that leap of faith into the unknown, then you’ll find great motivational advice from Peter during the GROW event. “It really is a fantastic opportunity for young entrepreneurs and established firms alike to be inspired and better equipped with new business skills and ideas!” Peter Casey will be a keynote speaker at the ‘GROW Entrepreneurship Festival’ on Wednesday March 7 from 9am to 2pm at the Ulster University’s Magee campus (MU011 - Teaching Block).