Local Enterprise Office Carlow announces ‘National Women’s Enterprise Day’ as new figures show 20,500 female entrepreneurs have taken up supports this year across the country

Local Enterprise Office Carlow announces ‘National Women’s Enterprise Day’ as new figures show 20,500 female entrepreneurs have taken up supports this year across the country

National Womens Enterprise Day

  • Free events moving online for National Women’s Enterprise Day on Wednesday, October 14th
  • New 2020 figures*: Over 20,500 female entrepreneurs have taken part in Local Enterprise Offices’ training programmes and more than 3,560 have benefited from business mentoring so far in 2020
  • As Covid-19 restrictions continue, key themes of resilience, self-care, innovation and opportunity to feature under ‘Stronger Together’ message

“We’re stronger together” is the message from Local Enterprise Office Carlow at the announcement of events to mark National Women’s Enterprise Day on Wednesday, October 14th.

The Local Enterprise Office initiative, now in its fourteenth year, was launched by An Tánaiste and Minister Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar T.D., and is being funded by the Government of Ireland in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and Local Authorities.  

Figures released by Local Enterprise Offices to coincide with the launch reveal that 20,551 female participants took part in training programmes with the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in the first six months of 2020, an increase of 58% over the same period last year. There is also greater demand for mentoring support this year, with 3,567 female entrepreneurs taking up the support between January and June 2020, an increase of 19%*.

The interactive events on October 14th for National Women’s Enterprise Day are moving online to LocalEnterprise.ie/NWED and the big themes this year are resilience, self-care, innovation and opportunity. All events in the programme are free of charge and include workshops with experts, panel discussions, a virtual marketplace and facilitated networking to connect more entrepreneurs with each other.

Entrepreneurs that will be sharing their insights and journeys include Olympian-turned-company founder Derval O’ Rourke, Sonia Deasy of the Irish global skincare brand, Pestle & Mortar, Pamela Laird of Moxi Loves who was a finalist on BBC’s The Apprentice and Áine Kerr, the co-founder of Kinzen and RTÉ broadcaster, who is also the M.C. for the day.

An Tánaiste, who will be delivering the opening address on National Women’s Enterprise Day, said:

“The ‘Stronger Together’ message for National Women’s Enterprise Day has never been more important. I look forward to addressing this year’s event and hearing from inspiring female business leaders on how they have managed the past few months, which have been extremely difficult for all business owners and their staff. The Government is determined to help more women pursue entrepreneurship as a career and I’m encouraged to see such a significant increase – 58%, taking up the training programmes that are available. Training and mentorship can make a huge difference to any entrepreneur starting out, on what can often be a lonely journey, and I encourage all women considering setting up their own business to contact their Local Enterprise Office to see how they can help you.”

Gabrielle Carroll  with Local Enterprise Office in Carlow County Council said: “On National Women’s Enterprise Day on October 14th, we want to show businesses that we’re ‘Stronger Together.’ We also want to show how small changes can make big impacts, how we can learn from each other, how small businesses can cultivate innovation and how international markets can offer new opportunities.  Paula Butler of award winning Butlers Organic Eggs, in Hacketstown  is Carlow’s  Leading Light for National Women’s Enterprise Day and is a living example of Stronger Together and we are thrilled to have her onboard.  Registration is now open and events are free to join so I would encourage local businesswomen and aspiring female entrepreneurs to join us online for a day of education, inspiration and motivation!”

Other contributors on the day include Siobhan Kinsella of Chambers Ireland, Alison Richie of Polar Ice, Joanne Hession of LIFT Ireland, Tracy Keogh of Grow Remote, Larissa Feeney of Accountant Online, Deirdre Parkinson of Microfinance Ireland as well as Sheelagh Daly, Anne Lanigan and Marina Donohoe of Enterprise Ireland.

For more information on National Women’s Enterprise Day and to pre-register for the free events, go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie/nwed or search #NWED on social media.

ENDS 

NOTES TO EDITOR

*Figures released by the Local Enterprise Offices (and compiled by Enterprise Ireland on 17.09.20)

Training through Local Enterprise Offices

2019: No of female participants taking part in training programmes from January to June 2019 was 12,964 2020: No of female participants taking part in training programmes from January to June 2020 was 20,551 An increase of 7,587 female participants (58.5%)

Mentoring through Local Enterprise Offices

 

2019: No of female participants taking part in mentoring from January to June 2019 was 2,992

2020: No of female participants taking part in mentoring from January to June 2020 was 3,567

An increase of 575 female participants (19.2%)

To see the programme of events for National Women’s Enterprise Day, please visit LocalEnterprise.ie/NWED

For further information, please contact your Local Enterprise Office  - Gabrielle Carroll Business Advisor. 059 9129783