Local Job creation in Focus at the Launch of Biggest Ever Fingal Enterprise Week
Monday 7th September 2015
“It’s all about jobs, jobs, jobs!” That’s according to Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise, speaking about the rationale for running the sixth consecutive Fingal Enterprise Week, which was launched today. The launch comes just days after the Fingal Enterprise Office announced that it had supported another five local businesses with funding that will help create 25 new jobs.
Running from October 5th to 9th across venues throughout Fingal, the Fingal Enterprise Week will be the biggest ever local “Enterprise Week” not just in Fingal, but in Ireland. The week promises a programme of events designed to boost business opportunities and deliver opportunities for SMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs to learn from industry experts.
An initiative of the Fingal Local Enterprise Office and supported by Vodafone and Bank of Ireland, over 1,500 local businesses and start-ups will benefit from 30 major business events, workshops, networking opportunities and mentoring clinics. Activities to be held during Fingal Enterprise Week include some great success stories sharing their experience with the next generation of Irish Businesses.
Some of the key highlights include:
Fingal Start-Up Day will attract hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs for an intensive full day “Business Start-Up” bootcamp.
Dublin Senior Footballer Bernard Brogan leads a stellar team of Irish sports stars in the networking highlight “Fit for Business”. The sports stars are not only successful in their field of sport but all are owner-managers of SMEs and will explain how they manage their physical and mental fitness to ensure success in both sport and business.
A new business network for female entrepreneurs will be launched – “Fingal Enterprising Women”
Several networking events and seminars featuring key industry experts that will address topics such as: “Caring for Your Customers”, “Learning from Experience”, “Company Law”, Costing and Pricing”, “Supercharge Your Sales”, “Financing Your Start-up” and many more.
Speaking at today’s launch Paul Reid, Chief Executive, Fingal County Council, said of the initiative, “Now that economic recovery has clearly taken root, we must remain focused on ensuring that our local entrepreneurs and employers are provided with appropriate supports, so that they can seize opportunities to grow their businesses and to continue to create much-needed employment.”
He continued: “That is why we are proud to support this worthwhile initiative again this year. I urge all businesses in the County to participate fully in the exciting array of activities and I look forward to meeting many of you during Fingal Enterprise Week”.
Claire Reynolds, Head of Small Business, Vodafone Ireland, sponsors of Fingal Enterprise Week said, “Fingal Enterprise Week is a vital initiative for small businesses in the Fingal area and beyond. It provides access to advice and mentoring which is invaluable to anyone starting or working to expand their business. Small businesses are an integral aspect of Ireland’s economic recovery and Vodafone is committed to supporting businesses locally which is why we are delighted to continue our partnership this year with Fingal Enterprise Week”
As well as the many hundreds of businesses to benefit from the week, 250 of Fingal’s youngest budding entrepreneurs from schools throughout the region will also have an opportunity to learn from real-life stories of enterprise at a major event hosted in the Riasc Centre in Swords on the last day of the week-long schedule, hosted by 2FM’s Rick O’Shea.
Fingal Enterprise Week 2015 will take place in venues across Fingal with online bookings and more information on the full schedule at www.fingalenterpriseweek.ie. Places are limited and only nominal fees apply so early booking is advised. The official Facebook account is www.facebook/LEOFingal, Twitter is @LEOFingal and the official hashtag is #FEW15.
ENDS