Enterprises Supported by Local Enterprise Office Clare create 120 jobs in 2019

Enterprise Office jobs figures for 2019, announced by Heather Humphreys T.D. Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Pat Breen T.D., Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, show that 120 net jobs were created by Local Enterprise Office Clare supported companies last year, up 15% year on year. Since the establishment of Local Enterprise Office Clare in April 2014, supported enterprises have created 872 net new jobs plus 20 enterprises employing 536 people have progressed to Enterprise Ireland.

Local Enterprise Office Clare currently supports 239 enterprises that employ 1,384.  During 2019, Local Enterprise Office Clare approved funding of €674k to 27 enterprises, a further 34 enterprises were supported with Trading Online Vouchers to improve their ability to conduct business online and 8 enterprises were provided with funding to explore export markets. In addition to financial supports, 123 enterprises availed of our mentor support programme and 1,003 participated in our training programmes.

Padraic McElwee, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Clare, commented, “2019 was a strong year for job creation in Clare and reflects the important role that Local Enterprise Office Clare is playing in creating jobs and sustaining small businesses in the region. Our aim is to support eligible enterprises and assist entrepreneurs and small business owners to develop and grow their idea or business. The continuing strong employment growth being achieved by our micro enterprises plays an important role in supporting our local economy and our local communities.”

He continued, “The range of supports on offer from the Local Enterprise Office will help anyone seeking to start or grow a small business through highly practical services such as professional business and management training, mentoring, networking opportunities, finance and much more.”    

 The 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide, an initiative of the Government of Ireland, are operated in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities.  They provide expert training, mentoring and financial assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses who may want to start, develop or grow their company.   

 The Local Enterprise Offices have played a key role in preparing small businesses in Ireland for Brexit.  This includes Brexit Mentoring, Technical Assistance for Micro Exporting grants for small businesses looking to diversify into new markets, the Brexit SME Scorecard, the Trading Online Voucher Scheme for those selling online internationally and LEAN for Micro enabling small companies to trade more effectively and competitively. The Local Enterprise Offices also provides Brexit Customs Training which will enable any small business to learn about the customs import and export procedures that will be required post-Brexit to ensure they can continue to trade effectively with a country outside the single market.