Bmw Swot

SWOT ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS

* Indigenous entrepreneurial spirit, small business base and work ethic

* Good industrial relations

* Strategic location of County

* Diverse tradition of Arts, Heritage and Culture

* Strong literary tradition

* Vibrant community and voluntary sectors involved in service provision and impacting on all aspects of life in the County

* Strong local social conscience and value systems

* Well developed enterprising range of agricultural businesses supported by high level of cooperative activity

* Largely unspoilt rural landscape

* Sustainable rural communities

* A willingness among organisations and agencies to foster co ordination and co operation.

* Increased culture of co-operation and partnership

* Growth in outreach services

* New County Council strategies on Waste, Water and Housing

WEAKNESSES

* No third level educational institution

* Underdeveloped ICT infrastructure and low uptake of IT in local industry

* Weak tourism base

* Over reliance on declining industries and sectors

* Loss of young people and a brain drain from the County

* Lack of choice in employment opportunities

* Low wage economy

* Low level of inward investment

* Peripherality

* National criteria too restrictive for local impact

* Lack of female participation in workforce

* Inadequate childcare

* Poor social infrastructure

* Poor transportation infrastructure

* Deficiencies in capacities of water and sewerage services

* Lack of serviceable development land

* Shortage of housing, especially social housing

* No alternative energy sources

* Weak infrastructure for arts, culture, heritage and sports

* Poor image of County and low priority on national stage

* Constraints on farm development caused by quotas, waste and succession issues

* Low return from farming

* Lack of coordination of service delivery at local level

* Hidden poverty

* Underemployment

* Over reliance on short term funding

* Real and perceived barriers to cross border activities, e.g. uncertainty, currency difference, past experiences etc

* Lack of social and recreational amenities

* Barriers to participation in full time adult education

OPPORTUNITIES

* Cross-border economic, social and cultural development

* Expansion of existing businesses and agricultural sector

* Development of lifelong learning

* BMW strategy, Objective 1 status, EU initiatives

* Council's strategies on waste, sewerage, housing

* Attraction of inward investment, both private and public

* Unspoilt environment for agriculture, tourism

* Third level outreach facilities

* Development of ICT business

* Development