Cork County Council’s Local Enterprise Office Cork North & West is focused on supporting women in business to ensure that women have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. As part of their female initiatives they launched a Female Specific training programme on Wednesday 24th February 2016 in Millstreet. The focus of this programme is on working with women to develop key skills that will help them grow their business and create jobs within the region.
The programme covers business skills such as business planning, financial planning, marketing and sales, human resource management, leadership skills and building a team. The programme will commence on Monday 4th April 2016 and will run for 10 consecutive weeks in the E Centre in Millstreet.
Speaking at the launch of the programme Tim Lucey, Chief Executive Cork County Council said “this is one of a number of initiatives that Cork County Council and its Local Enterprise Offices are involved in and it demonstrates our strong commitment to creating the supportive conditions that are required to support and grow entrepreneurship and small business opportunity in North Cork. Very often through these training and support programmes business ideas are unlocked and the capacity of the participants is developed so as to provide for a strong foundation for success and further engagement with the vast array of supports offered to small business opportunities through our LEO’s.
Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr. John Paul O’Shea said “It is great to see such an innovative training programme specifically targeted towards female entrepreneurs here in the heart of Duhallow. The LEO offices of Cork County Council are at the heart of the business community assisting in generating sustainable jobs. This programme will encourage and support dedicated female entrepreneurial activity in the area which can only be commended. There are some wonderful and dedicated female entrepreneurs in the area and we as a Council are delighted to assist them through the various training, mentoring & business development support programmes”.
LEO Cork North and West have a good track record in supporting successful women in business with examples such as Maura Hunter of MH Designs. Maura Hunter founded the nationally renowned MH Designs Ltd. over 25 years ago. A mother to 4 daughters at the time, she was frustrated with the limited access to what was a lack of good design at the time. After years of exams, hard work and dedication, Maura finally saw her ideas unfold into reality. Expanding through networking and training from the LEO (NCEB), MH Designs is now an established business and has been featured on RTE 1's At Your Service with the distinguished John and Francis Brennan on numerous occasions.
Siobhain Steele, of Siobhain Steele Ceramics set up her ceramic studio at home in 2013. Two years on her business has steadily grown and her ceramics are now available in over 28 stores nationwide and she has recently secured stores in New York. For Siobhain she realised her dream of starting and growing her own business while being able to achieve personal quality of life and work from home.
Joan Kelleher, Business and Training Advisor of the Leo Cork North and West said “We are very proud of all of our clients. These two ladies provide excellent role models to women in business in the region and are excellent examples of female entrepreneurs”. Kevin Curran Acting Head of Enterprise Cork North & West said “It is our intention to continue and support all business the best way we can. If research indicates that female specific initiatives will help us to help business grow then we will provide female specific initiatives. We will also continue to run a full range of training programmes for both men and women so we believe that we are providing a range of supports that will suit everyone’s requirements.
For more information:
Contact: Joan Kelleher - joan.kelleher@leo.corkcoco.ie
