I’m interested in starting my own Food business, how can LEO Dublin City help me?
Training Supports
We have many courses and programmes to help support those in the food business. Our Digital School of Food is a free e-learning hub to support food producers in developing their food manufacturing businesses from start-up to the growth phase. It is strongly recommended that you complete this prior to availing of any other supports.
The Food Starter Programme is a 2 day programme designed to help those with a food idea/very early stage of starting up a food manufacturing business.
Once you have complete the Food Starter Programme you may be interested in applying for Food Academy Start. Food Academy is a training programme aimed at supporting and nurturing start-up food businesses. In collaboration with Bord Bia and Supervalu, this initiative provides a consistent level of food marketing knowledge to new and early-stage food business owners.
For more information on all these training programmes visit https://www.localenterprise.ie/DublinCity/Training-Events/Food-Industry/Food-Supports.html
Mentoring
Each week we run a FREE Business Advice Clinic. Over two hours, an experienced Business Advisor explains the essentials of starting your own business. Bookings can be made here.
For more tailored support, our one to one mentoring programme connects you with an experienced business mentor to provide you with advice to suit your business needs. Each session offers you up to 3 hours contact time with a mentor, which can be made up of onsite/off site visit(s), email/telephone support or time guiding your research for your business. You can choose between one 3 hour (€10) or two 3 hour (€20) sessions. Applications can be made here.
Training
We offer a variety of training workshops and courses to support individuals starting a business.
Over 4/5 weeks, our Start Your Own Business course provides a comprehensive overview of what it takes to start your own business. On completion of the course participants will have developed the necessary skills and knowledge to assess the market and financial viability of their business idea/project.
In addition to this, we also run a number of workshops to develop entrepreneur’s skillsets and understanding. Topics include Marketing Strategy, Social Media & Digital Marketing, Search Engine Optimisation, Tax and Bookkeeping, intellectual property and export to name just some of the subjects covered.
Through Dublin City Council’s Central Library we also run the Spring and Autimn series of free talks on the essentials of starting a business.
For more information and to make a booking visit https://www.localenterprise.ie/DublinCity/Training-Events/Online-Bookings/
Management Development Programmes
Register your interest and a business advisor will provide a holistic overview of your business and direct you to the most suitable supports e.g. financial management, intensive marketing, leadership programmes, consultancy, exports and grants advice.
Financial Supports
See what's available. Please read:
Types of grants
Eligibility criteria
If you believe you meet the criteria, the first stage of assessment is the Business support request form. It's a competitive process.
Feasibility grant
Staffing grants: Priming & Business Expansion
Market Explorer Grant (Trade fairs overseas)
Consultancy services
Networks
Networking is a valuable and productive activity for owner/managers. Networking puts you in contact with like-minded people whose experience and knowledge can help greatly in helping you solve the day-to-day problems of business and benefit from the opportunities that may arise.
Other Supports
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has specific information on the requirements of starting a food business including HACCP, safe catering food labelling, product shelf life as well as a number of free eLearning modules.
Bord Bia is an Irish state agency with the aim of promoting sales of Irish food and horticulture both abroad and in Ireland itself. Bord Bia works for both small and large producers; for small producers by promoting and certifying farmers' markets, and for bigger producers by offering a great range of international marketing services.
New Frontiers is a national entrepreneur development programme, funded by Enterprise Ireland. Aimed at accelerating the development of sustainable new businesses that have strong employment and growth potential. Delivered by third-level institutions, at 16 locations around Ireland, it provides a comprehensive set of business development supports to participants. Supports include:
The New Frontiers Programme is delivered across three phases:
Phase 1: Testing Your Business Idea (2 evenings for 8 – 10 weeks)
Phase 2: Business Planning (6 months Full-Time)
Phase 3: Business Development (2/3 months Full-Time)
For more information on supports available to you visit www.supportingsmes.gov.ie
