Local Enterprise Week 2017 “a big success” in Cork City

Local Enterprise Week (5th-10th March) has been a big success in the city, especially in raising awareness of supports for small businesses, according to Local Enterprise Office, Cork City.

Across the country, more than 380 seminars, workshops, business advice clinics and conferences took place for an estimated 14,500 start-ups, entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses.

The aim of the week was to boost awareness of the types of supports and services available to micro and small enterprises from the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in every local authority area. Adrienne Rodgers, Head of Enterprise, LEO Cork City said: “Local Enterprise Week has been a big success in the city.  The programme of events was very well supported. The turn-out was even better than expected and as a result the response from the small business community has been very positive. A word of thanks to all who helped in making the Week the success it was - the participants, local business organisations, Cork City Libraries,  Cork City Partnership, EEN at Cork Chamber, Port of Cork, UCC and CIT, local financial institutions, our neighbouring LEOs in County Cork (for jointly-run events) and the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment. Whether it is advice on funding options, help with developing a business plan, training around sales or financial assistance to help trade more online, the main message from ‘Local Enterprise Week’ is that the Local Enterprise Office is the first-stop-shop.”

Highlights from the LEO Cork City programme of events included:

  • The 50 things to know before you start a business!
  • Succession Planning for family businesses
  • Brexit-proof your Business
  • Becoming an entrepreneur in Ireland (for senior cycle business students)
  • Trading Online: the power of digital engagement for your business
  • Business Advice Clinics
  • Selection of Paul Moore, Rebel Chilli, to represent LEO Cork City in the National Enterprise Awards on 25th May next.
  • It’s all about the Customer
  • Books for Business
  • The Entrepreneurial Journey – your destiny! (for 18-35s)

Speaking during Local Enterprise Week, Minister Mitchell O’Connor said: “It takes courage to start a business and a huge commitment. It is so important that we encourage and support more and more people to choose entrepreneurship as their career. The new start-ups of today are the employers of the future and we need to ensure as many as possible succeed. That is why the LEOs in every county in Ireland are on hand to support people embarking on their business journey.”

The Minister of State for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen T.D. said: “The LEO ‘first stop shop’ service is a key part of the Government’s job creation strategy and central to delivering on the ambition of helping people to help themselves, building a culture of entrepreneurship and enterprise, delivering jobs in every county in Ireland.   I am delighted to see the collaboration between the LEOs, local business communities and other State support agencies to make this week of fantastic events a reality all over the country.”  

After a very busy start to the month of March, Local Enterprise Office, Cork City is already preparing for upcoming events which will include Business Advice Clinics, Training Programmes for owners/managers of small businesses and Food Academy Start Programme.  Further details available on www.localenterprise.ie/corkcity