Collaboration can foster growth, success and global reach – and together, Enjoy the Mournes and MADE in Mourne has proven that is possible.
Award-winning social enterprise MADE in Mourne has secured an additional £5,000 in business sponsorship funding for 2023. The funding will enable MADE in Mourne to host and deliver a multitude of events to benefit the local businesses and entrepreneurs in the region. You will find these events below here.
The first event in our partnership series ‘Powered by Enjoy The Mournes’ is ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ on International Women’s Day, happening on Wednesday 8th March, from 12.30pm – 1.30pm. Our guests will hear from inspirational female guest speakers Joanne McDowell, on behalf of our headline sponsor, DR Group and Georgia Cully from Enjoy The Mournes.
This is an opportunity to meet likeminded female entrepreneurs while expanding their network, and participating in the beginning of the exciting event partnership with Enjoy The Mournes – the No.1 touchpoint for businesses and consumers to find great places to stay, eat, shop or visit in the Mournes.
Enjoy the Mournes, owned and operated by local entrepreneur, Samuel Chestnutt, is a DMC (Destination Management Company) business that promotes the Mournes and its neighbouring regions to an international following. Samuel is the CEO of several tourism companies, namely Edengate Travel Limited.
Following the astounding success of the ‘Give the Gift of Home’ Christmas campaign, becoming an official sponsor of MADE in Mourne was a natural progression.
Samuel stated the company’s strategic goal for the sponsorship is to invite people to stay in the Mourne region for “respite and retreats and to Enjoy the Mournes.”
“We try to spotlight the entire Mourne region and promote the value of this area’s tourism offering. We are a destination management company (DMC) that encourages international visitors to come and stay in the Mourne region for extended periods. This strategic partnership with MADE in Mourne is a complement to our mission. The competition we ran at the end of 2022 with Jenna and her team was just one of the ways to do that. It works exceptionally well.”
Founded by local entrepreneur Jenna Stevenson in 2017, Made in Mourne is an award- winning Social Enterprise that provides facilities, knowledge, and support for entrepreneurs in the rural coastal Mourne region. This helps to launch and sustainably grow their businesses, enabling community wealth building through a bustling retail space and business hub.
Generating over £1m for the local economy, MADE in Mourne attributes its growth and success to their community and people. The social enterprise relies on community funding, business sponsorships and donations to continue its positive impact in the community. Just recently, Made in Mourne was awarded ‘Rural Social Enterprise of the Year 2022’ in the Social Enterprise Awards. This prestigious accolade was sponsored by the DAERA to recognise the social enterprise’s positive community wealth building contribution to society.
Made in Mourne noted a sales increase of +133% during the campaign period with Enjoy The Mournes, in comparison to the same period the previous year. This two-way strategic collaboration has fostered opportunity and entrepreneurship, creating positive change and social impact within the rural community of Mourne. Both social enterprises aim to increase sales, footfall and finance, and export sales.
If you are a business in Mourne and would like to extend your reach and offerings, reach out to Samuel directly to learn more about how Enjoy The Mournes can promote your tourism business internationally and be part of future competitions and promotions.
Alternatively, get in touch regarding business sponsorship opportunities with MADE in Mourne for 2024/2025, please email jenna@madeinmourne.com.