Incoming budgetary measures aimed at small businesses mean that there has never been a better time for aspiring female entrepreneurs to start a business, say the organisers behind National Women’s Enterprise Day (on Thursday, October 22nd).
Organised by the network of Local Enterprise Offices, National Women’s Enterprise Day is being marked with a major conference to help bridge the gender divide in Ireland by encouraging more women to start up their own businesses.
Speaking about the Budget Day measures that will impact on the small business sector, Kieran Comerford, Chair of the network of Local Enterprise Offices said: “The introduction of supports for small businesses, such as the Income Tax Credit of €550 for the self-employed as well as the extension of tax relief to 2018 for start-up companies, is good news for any aspiring female entrepreneurs.”
He added: “Through highlighting the success stories of Irish female entrepreneurs on National Women’s Enterprise Day, we want to encourage even more women to consider starting up their own businesses. Thanks to the introduction of new measures for small businesses in the recent budget, there has never been a better time to start.”
National Women’s Enterprise Day 2015, taking place at the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill, is themed: “Creating Connections - Building Business” with close to 300 women in business from every corner of the country gathering to network and develop new business skills.
Facilitated by Síle Seoige, guest speakers include Oonagh O’Hagan of Meagher’s Pharmacy, Triona MacGiolla Rí from Aro Digital Strategy and Ruth Monahan from Appassionata Flowers. Meanwhile, the ‘Telling It As It Is’ segment will include the case studies of Claire Bannon from Avokado & Co., Leigh Williams of Wicklow Brewery and Niamh O’ Neill, of the Niamh O’ Neill fashion label.
Later today, a business networking event with Clare Mulligan will take place on the eve of National Women’s Enterprise Day, as well as a workshop on marketing and PR, featuring Emma Boylan of Outside The Box, Shruthi Chindalur from LinkedIn and online mentor, Martha Fraser.
Free one-to-one mentoring sessions will be available in the areas of finance, business start-up and sustainability, e-business and food enterprise. In addition, representatives from state-support organisations for small businesses will be on hand, to offer information and advice in the exhibition area.
Organised by the network of Local Enterprise Offices, National Women’s Enterprise Day (www.nwed.ie) is supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities Network with further updates available by searching #nwed on Twitter and Facebook.
