Workspace Chief one of first recipients of Queen’s Award for Enterprise
April 26, 2007
Workspace Chief Executive Brian Murray has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion. Brian is one of the first recipients of the new award and he has been selected in recognition of his work with Workspace, the Local Enterprise Agency for the Magherafelt District and as founder Chairman of Enterprise Northern Ireland.
Brian has been involved in the whole area of promoting enterprise and supporting small businesses for the past 19 years initially through his work with LEDU the Small Business Agency and over the more recent past as Chief Executive with Workspace.
Brian has been involved in the whole area of promoting enterprise and supporting small businesses for the past 19 years initially through his work with LEDU the Small Business Agency and over the more recent past as Chief Executive with Workspace.
In welcoming the Award Brian praised his colleagues at Workspace and Enterprise NI.
“The award is a reflection of the hard work which has gone into making enterprise development in Magherafelt a success and that is down to a whole range of voluntary directors and executive staff with whom I have worked over the last decade. The Magherafelt District has the highest level of business start up per head of population of all 26 Council areas in Northern Ireland and also can claim the lowest level of unemployment. The entrepreneurial spirit has been encouraged by the work of Workspace in applying resources to the whole area of promoting enterprise and self employment as a career option.
“The successful emergence of Enterprise Northern Ireland has refocused and given co-ordination and energy to the delivery of enterprise support across Northern Ireland. It was important that the Local Enterprise Agencies came together under one brand and Enterprise NI has facilitated that.”
Brian emphasised the need for increased Government support for the SME sector:
“Whilst Northern Ireland’s performance has improved over the past few years we cannot be complacent. Invest NI has a huge role to play in supporting new start ups and locally focused businesses and must continue to support the Business Start Programme – their key product offering to this sector as well as putting in place the Develop a Business Programme, aimed at existing local businesses.
In his career to date Brian has developed a range of initiatives aimed at encouraging increased levels of business start up and business development particularly in rural areas. As Chief Executive of Workspace he leads a dynamic organisation employing almost 50 staff involved in a range of activities including commercial property, insulation services, business consultancy, event management and vocational training. The expertise developed by Workspace has seen their personnel undertaking assignments in Egypt, Bulgaria, Turkey, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Brian is aged 42 and is married with 4 children. Born in Fintona now lives in Cookstown. BA Degree Business Administration & Computer Science (QUB). MSc Business Improvement (UUJ)
