LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICE CARLOW CLIENTS CREATED 56 JOBS IN 2022
LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICE CARLOW NOW SUPPORTING 219 SMALL BUSINESSES AND 1,101 JOBS ACCORDING TO NEW FIGURES
Almost €700,000 in Grant Aid Awarded to Carlow Businesses in 2022
- 243 new jobs created in 2022
- 5% job increase from 2021
- 9th year of Year on Year jobs growth
- Net employment gain of 56 in 2022
- 219 total small businesses employing 1,101 people supported by LEO Carlow
Today, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney TD, announced the annual results of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) for 2022 which showed that Local Enterprise Office Carlow supported companies created 243 jobs in 2022. This figure was a significant increase on the 1,015 jobs that were supported by LEO Carlow in 2021.
The net jobs created by Local Enterprise Office Carlow supported clients in 2022 was 56, which takes into account companies that amalgamated, ceased trading and those that transferred on to Enterprise Ireland.
The new figures show that LEO Carlow supported 219 small businesses in their portfolio across the county and these companies in turn employ 1,101 people.
The total national figures for the Local Enterprise Offices across the country were announced with the LEOs now supporting 37,863 jobs across 7,221 companies. In 2022 there were 7,870 new jobs created by LEO clients companies with a net jobs creation figure of 3,447. This was up 10% nationally on 2021. From the jobs created, 84% were outside of the Dublin region.
The LEOs also provide substantial funded supports to thousands of other small businesses across the country with programmes such as the Trading Online Voucher, Lean for Micro and Green for Micro along with training and mentoring. Figures release today by Local Enterprise Office Carlow show that €692,236.38 was awarded to 64 local businesses in Carlow in 2022, helping to develop local enterprise and support job creation. According to the Local Enterprise Office €341,738 in Business Expansion grants was awarded to 12 businesses in operation for more than 18 months, €142,022 in Priming Grants were awarded to 7 businesses starting up or trading less than 18 months, €50,700 in feasibility grants were awarded to 5 businesses who wished to explore new products or processes, 1 business was awarded a Grad Start grant of €30,000 to assist with the employment of recent graduates, 1 other business was awarded €48,000 under the Agile Innovation Programme and €63,915 was awarded in Trading Online Vouchers to 30 Carlow businesses who wanted to develop or upgrade their online sales facilities.
Simon Coveney, T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said; “These results show the significant role the Local Enterprise Offices are playing in not only creating new businesses and jobs but also in sustaining them. On the back of some of the most difficult years for small businesses we are still seeing growth across the country. During the pandemic we saw how essential the LEOs were to small businesses and they will be essential as we navigate the ongoing cost of living and energy crises.
“With 84% of new jobs being created outside of Dublin it reinforces the Government’s strategy to strengthen employment throughout Ireland. As the remit of the Local Enterprise Offices has now broadened to companies up to 50 employees, even more SMEs will be able to avail of their supports, but also their expertise in growing enterprise in towns and villages across the country.”
Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise with Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office said “The results announced today are a testament to Ireland’s small business community. When faced with adversity, they have adapted, pivoted, upskilled and did whatever it took to sustain themselves. The figures show that companies have seen the opportunities in the challenging trading conditions they have faced. The Local Enterprise Offices across the country have gone above and beyond in their support of small businesses but there is renewed optimism. We are seeing new opportunities for Irish businesses here and as always with tough economic periods we see new ideas and companies emerge and flourish. This year will be no different and as we continue to work closely with Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities to ensure our small businesses get the best possible supports there are certainly green shoots emerging across the country.”
Welcoming the strong employment results, Enterprise Ireland CEO, Leo Clancy said; “These are very positive employment results from the Local Enterprise Offices. It demonstrates the close relationship that exists between the LEOs and the companies they support and how they are able to navigate a challenging business environment, such as we witnessed in 2022. Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs are engaged in an exciting work programme to increase alignment between both organisations so that we can better serve businesses at all stages of growth and development and help them to create prosperity and jobs throughout Ireland. I look forward to continuing to work on that agenda in 2023.”
Speaking today Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, Cllr. Brian O’Donoghue said “This significant level of investment will greatly support the growth and sustainability of businesses in Carlow. Any start up Carlow business or existing business with ambitions to grow in 2023 should engage with our Local Enterprise Office and avail of the supports which are available.” The Cathaoirleach continued to say that “I would like to thank Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for their continued support of our business support programme and in particular Anne Maire Russell Walsh, Brian Fives and Martin Corkery in Enterprise Ireland South East office and Richard Murphy and the team in Enterprise Ireland in Shannon who provide us with practical and hands on support in our agenda to support the business community”.
Séamus Doran, Assistant Head of Economic Development & Enterprise with the Local Enterprise Office added “In 2021 we awarded over €550,000 in financial grant aid to local Carlow businesses. We set an ambition to exceed this in 2022 and were successful in working with 64 Carlow businesses during the year to support them in receiving almost €700,000 in grant aid, an increase of 27% in grant aid awarded in just one year. The Local Enterprise Office is very keen to support the growth of local businesses. We will work with any business in Carlow to assess their development and the support which could be available to them. We are especially interested in hearing from manufacturing businesses and businesses who have a service which could be exported.”
The Local Enterprise Offices located in the local authorities and funded through Enterprise Ireland support thousands of small Irish businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide. Since their establishment in 2014 they have been for the first stop shop for entrepreneurs and small businesses and providing a range of supports including financial, mentoring, training and sector specific expertise to help guide businesses at any stage of their development.
They also run key initiatives to foster entrepreneurship across the country including Local Enterprise Week, National Women’s Enterprise Day, the Student Enterprise Programme and the National Enterprise Awards. For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie
For further information: contact Kieran Comerford on 086-8252037 or e-mail kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie
