CIDO Innovation Centre

20/05/2026

If you’re serious about growing your business in today’s fast-moving market, it’s time to rethink the way you approach sales and growth.

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming workshop:

The New Rules of Business Growth & Sales
This session is designed for business owners and leaders who want to move beyond outdated strategies and start driving consistent, sustainable growth.
👉 Secure your place here:
https://tinyurl.com/34ma97ch

What you’ll gain:
Proven strategies to attract and convert the right clients
Practical insights into modern sales techniques that actually work
A clearer, smarter approach to scaling your business
Actionable ideas you can implement immediately

This isn’t theory—it’s a practical, hands-on session focused on what’s working right now in business growth and sales.
Whether you’re looking to increase revenue, sharpen your sales process, or future-proof your business, this workshop will give you the tools and confidence to move forward.
Spaces are limited, so we’d highly recommend booking early.

15/05/2026

🚀 Thinking about going self-employed or starting your own business?

Not sure if entrepreneurship is the right path for you? This event is designed to help you explore the realities of self-employment, understand what it takes to succeed, and decide whether running your own business aligns with your goals and lifestyle.

Join us for an insightful session covering:
✨ The realities of entrepreneurship
✨ Skills and mindset needed to succeed
✨ The pros and challenges of self-employment
✨ How to know if business ownership is right for you
✨ Practical guidance for getting started

Whether you’re exploring a side hustle, freelancing, or launching your first business, this is a great opportunity to gain clarity and confidence.

Interactive Webinar (Online)
21st May
6pm – 8pm

📍 Limited spaces available — secure your place today.
https://gosucceed.glistrr.com/e/916

01/05/2026

On Wednesday, May 13 (10:00–12:00) at CIDO Innovation Centre, Portadown, we’re hosting a practical, hands-on workshop designed to show how AI can do real work for your business — not just answer questions.
Beyond Prompts: How AI Can Actually Work for Your Business

Led by Damien Fegan, founder of Beacon and AI training consultant, this session goes far beyond basic prompting.

What you’ll learn:
✅ How to write prompts that actually produce useful, repeatable results
✅ How to set up AI projects that remember context and work like a research assistant
✅ How to build Custom GPTs tailored to your business needs
✅ A live look at Claude Cowork — the next step beyond chat-style AI, where AI research, drafts, builds and handles real tasks

This is a practical, no-jargon workshop aimed at small business owners, marketers and teams who want immediate, usable takeaways.

📍 Location: CIDO Innovation Centre, Portadown
🗓 Date: Wednesday, May 13
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
💻 Bring a laptop if you have one

If you’re already using ChatGPT (even casually) and want to get far more from it — this session will change how you think about AI at work.

👉 Spaces are limited — book your place now. https://tinyurl.com/uwbej9bb

17/04/2026

What's on this month to help you on your business journey? 💻
If you’re in the early stages of your business, these free Go Succeed NI sessions are designed to give you practical skills, expert insight and the confidence to take your next step 👇
Social Media for Beginners
📆 Thursday 23rd April, 12:30pm
A beginner-friendly guide to Instagram, understanding the algorithm and identifying your target audience to connect with the right customers.
🔗gosucceed.glistrr.com/e/909
Improving Business Finance for Developing Start Ups
📆 Monday 27th April, 6:00pm
Build strong financial foundations with practical guidance on bookkeeping, taxes, pricing and forecasting for your business.
🔗gosucceed.glistrr.com/e/910
Developing Powerful Marketing Strategies
📆 Thursday 30th April, 6:00pm
Explore proven marketing approaches, from social media and PR to email campaigns and customer engagement strategies.
🔗gosucceed.glistrr.com/e/911
For the full list of upcoming events go to go-succeed.com/events🔗
Go Succeed represents a significant investment in local entrepreneurs and businesses funded by the UK Government.

15/04/2026

Fire safety isn’t optional — it’s essential. 🔥

Make sure your workplace is prepared with proper Fire Warden Training. From understanding evacuation procedures to identifying risks before they become hazards, trained fire wardens play a critical role in keeping everyone safe.

✔️ Be prepared
✔️ Protect your team
✔️ Stay compliant

Don’t wait for an emergency to test your readiness.

03/04/2026

When we first started working with startups, we thought their biggest problem was budget.

It wasn’t.

It was clarity.

We saw founders building amazing products…
…but struggling to explain them in one sentence.

Websites full of features—but no clear value.
Content going out daily—but no traction.
Big ideas… getting ignored.

One founder said to us:
“We know it’s good. We just don’t know how to make people get it.”

That’s the moment it clicked.

Startups don’t just need more marketing.
They need messaging that lands.

Because if your audience has to think too hard… they’re gone.

Now, every startup we work with starts here:
• What problem are you solving?
• Who actually cares?
• Why you over anyone else?

Get that right—and everything else becomes easier.

CIDO.CO.UK — Helping startups turn ideas into traction.

03/04/2026

Get going this month! ✨
No April fools here, we are kicking off April with these Go Succeed online masterclasses to get you started on your business journey.

Thursday 16 April at 6.00pm - Building Your Start-Up Business Plan.
Learn how to shape your idea, set clear goals, understand your market, and plan your finances with confidence during this session.
🔗 gosucceed.glistrr.com/e/908

Thursday 23 April at 12.30pm - Social Media for Beginners masterclass.
Get to grips with Instagram, understand how the algorithm works, and learn how to reach the right audience for your business.
🔗 gosucceed.glistrr.com/e/909

Make this the month you start! 👏🏻

20/03/2026

CIDO in collaboration with Wylie Ruddell Accountants are running a practical MTD workshop designed specifically for sole traders and landlords.

In this session, we’ll cover:
• What’s changing and when
• How MTD will affect your business
• What systems and processes you’ll need to put in place
• How to avoid common pitfalls and last-minute stress

If you’re a sole trader, MTD isn’t optional. Preparing early with the right digital system and understanding the quarterly updates will save headaches, fines, and extra work. With the rollout starting from April 2026, it’s a great opportunity to get prepared early and make the transition as smooth as possible.

Spaces are limited, so if you’d like to join us, I’d recommend securing your place soon using the link below.

When: Wednesday 29 April 2026
Time: 10.00am- 12.00 noon
Location: CIDO Innovation Centre, 73 Charlestown Road, Craigavon, BT63 5PP.

MTD is changing how sole traders and landlords manage and report their finances — and the first phase is fast approaching.

05/03/2026

🌍 Help Shape the Future of Craigavon, Lurgan & Portadown

Residents, businesses and community groups are being invited to take part in developing new Place Plans for Craigavon, Lurgan and Portadown.

Led by the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Community Planning Partnership, this initiative will create a shared vision for the future of the three towns—focusing on improving the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the area.

Over the next two years, the Place Planning process will gather ideas, priorities and local insights to help shape how these places develop and grow. Community input will play a key role in identifying opportunities and guiding future actions that benefit residents and local businesses.

💬 Your voice matters.
This is your opportunity to influence the future of the places where you live, work and visit.

Find out more and get involved:
https://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/resident/craigavon-lurgan-portadown-place-plans/

04/03/2026

🚀 Know Your New Customer – Free Business Workshop

Are you struggling to clearly identify who your ideal customer is and how to reach them? Join us for an interactive workshop designed for entrepreneurs and business owners who want to better understand their customers and grow their business.

In this 90-minute session, you'll gain practical insights into:
✅ Understanding real customer behaviour
✅ Identifying your ideal target audience
✅ Creating strategies that connect with the right customers

📅 Date: 9 March 2026
⏰ Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Armagh Business Centre

This workshop will help you develop a clearer, practical understanding of your customers and how to engage them effectively. ()

🎟️ Spaces are limited – register now:
https://www.glistrr.com/events/e/know-your-new-customer-3586-899