Seven events will take place around the country on Wednesday, October 19th to highlight success stories and to encourage more women to access enterprise supports
The South Regional event will take place at the Brehon Hotel in Killarney, Co. Kerry.
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D. has launched the full programme of events to mark the 10th annual National Women’s Enterprise Day, which is being organised by the Local Enterprise Offices Nationally on Wednesday, October 19th 2016.
Local Enterprise Offices Cork and Kerry are organising an event at the Brehon Hotel, Killarney to celebrate the success stories of Irish female entrepreneurs and to encourage more women across the region to access enterprise supports for starting or growing a business.
Special guests at the regional event include: Barbara Moynihan, On Your Feet; Clodagh McCarthy, Bright Sparks Coaching; Antoinette Butler of Ireland Host Family; Julia Lynes, Eazy City; Rosie Mansfield, Go Cambio; Maura Hunter, MH Designs; Valerie Kingston, Glenilen Farm; Helen Hourihane, Health & Safety Authority; Greg Canty, Fuzion Communications; Caroline McEnery, The HR Suite; Kieran O’Connor, Bullseye Marketing in association with Enterprise Europe Network.
All 31 Local Enterprise Offices are behind the initiative and they have enlisted the help of established entrepreneurs to act as Regional Ambassadors, to share their success stories at events that day.
This year’s Regional Ambassadors are Rachel Doyle of the Arboretum in Carlow and Wicklow, Nicola Byrne of 11890 and Cloud 90 in Dublin, Valerie Kingston of Glenilen Farm in Cork, Aisling Hanley of Keenwah Quinoa in Galway, Hannah Wrixon of Last Minute Minders in Limerick, Audrey Gaffney of Audrey Gaffney Associates in Meath, Regina Bushell of Grovelands Childcare in Westmeath and Margaret Reilly of CTR Manufacturing in Louth.
Launching the full programme of events, Minister Mitchell O’ Connor said: “The theme for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day on October 19th is the ‘road to success’ and I want to encourage more women across every region to start their entrepreneurship journey by developing their business idea or expanding their business. Last year, the Local Enterprise Offices in partnership with the Local Authorities provided invaluable supports including financial and mentoring to 6,250 female-run businesses while more than 11,000 female entrepreneurs participated in specialist training programmes. By highlighting the range of Government supports that are available, I want to increase the numbers of female entrepreneurs starting businesses across all regions of the country which will further enhance our economy by creating more quality jobs in Ireland. I would encourage women to contact their Local Enterprise Office to see what supports are available to them.”
Kevin Curran, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Cork North & West said: “Through financial assistance, microfinance loans, mentoring, training and networking, the Local Enterprise Offices in Local Authorities supported 1,000 more female-run enterprises last year, compared with 2014. There is a wide range of enterprise supports on offer and so we’re encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners to find out about those supports at the regional event on National Women’s Enterprise Day.”
Enterprise Ireland is also supporting National Women’s Enterprise Day 2016 and its CEO, Julie Sinnamon, said: “One in five high potential start-up companies supported by Enterprise Ireland isfemale-led — just five years ago, that figure was less than one in ten companies. We are very keen to work with women starting innovative businesses that are focused on exports, growth and job creation. Our aim is to continue to support and increase the number of new and existing female entrepreneurs with ambitions for success in international markets.”
To attend the Local Enterprise Offices Cork & Kerry, National Women’s Enterprise Day Event on the 19th of October, simply call your Local Enterprise Office Cork North on 022 43235 or in West Cork on 023 8834700. Tickets for the event cost just €30 per person and this includes a networking lunch at the Brehon Hotel.
