ISME, the Independent Business Association, today launched the agenda for their Spring 2004 Business Briefing Sessions to be held in 13 locations nationwide between January 22 and February 12, 2004.
ISME Chief Executive Mark Fielding announced that Jim Power, Chief Economist at Friends First, would be guest speaker at the Briefing Sessions to share his views on what lies in store for owner-managers in 2004.
Fielding said that economic conditions are tough for owner-managers, and a combination of a strong euro, increasing input costs including wages and insurance and sustained Government intervention have led to a general fall in SME's competitiveness.