31 Local Enterprise Offices jointly supporting over 38,000 jobs across 7,400 small businesses
- 3,149 net new jobs created in 2019 by clients across all 31 LEOs
- 6.4% increase in training to 37,306
- 10.5% increase in expert mentoring
- Record investment of €20m in small businesses by LEOs
LEO Fingal 2019 jobs figures–announced at a networking event in Fingal County Council celebrating local businesses approved for funding in the second half of last year–show that 109 new jobs were created by LEO Fingal supported companies last year.
The 31 LEOs, funded by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, are now supporting 38,535 jobs across 7,400 client companies. The 2019 figures for the LEOs, operated in partnership by Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, show that 3,149 net jobs were created last year across the country, including 109 new jobs in county Fingal.
This is the 6th year of continuous employment growth for the LEOs since they were set up in 2014. LEOs saw increases across all supports in 2019 including training, mentoring and funding.
The number of those trained in 2019 was up 6.4% last year with 37,306 availing of training through their Local Enterprise Office. There was also an 10.5% increase in mentoring assignments completed, with 10,756 clients benefitting from LEO mentoring.
In Fingal, 901 local entrepreneurs received mentoring while 871 took part in training programmes through LEO Fingal.
Nationally, over €20m was invested in LEO clients and start-ups last year. Locally, LEO Fingal invested over €1m in 130 business projects. In 2019, the LEOs also worked successfully with their clients to assist 162 companies transfer to Enterprise Ireland, including 7 local companies.
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Eoghan O’Brien said: “Local Enterprise Offices play a major role in local authority efforts towards economic development, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland. The supports and advice LEOs offer make a real difference to the businesses that avail of them. It is great to see more and more businesses reaching out for those supports, developing their potential and contributing to enterprise and employment growth across the country.”
Ms. AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, said: “It has been another year of growth for the Local Enterprise Offices in what has been a very successful partnership between Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities. Just last week Local Enterprise Week in Fingal proved once again to be a huge success and along with the Mayor, I was delighted to attend many of the business events organised by Fingal LEO in collaboration with other key state agencies and local business organisations. Our LEO continues to play a key role in driving entrepreneurship across Fingal and will help us to drive job creation throughout the region.”
Oisín Geoghegan, Chair of the LEO Network and Head of Enterprise in Fingal said: “These figures continue to emphasise the positive impact that the Local Enterprise Office is having on indigenous businesses across the county and indeed the country. Whether it’s through training, mentoring, funding, or expert one-to-one business advice, the Local Enterprise Offices are ‘making it happen’ for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Our expertise and experience are the bedrock of our ability to help businesses and we look forward to helping many more in 2020.”
Since the LEOs were established in 2014 they have helped create over 20,000 jobs nationally and provide a range of supports to small businesses including mentoring, training and sector specific expertise to help guide businesses at any stage of their development. For more information on supports available through LEO Fingal, visit www.localenterprise.ie/Fingal.