ENTERPRISE WEEK GETS OFF TO A FLYING START
Over 1,500 entrepreneurs and business owner/managers expected at Fingal events during Local Enterprise Week
Local Enterprise Week kicked off in Fingal with the opening of the new purpose-built interactive reception area at the Fingal Local Enterprise Office in County Hall, Swords.
Mayor of Fingal Darragh Butler and Chief Executive Paul Reid, joined Oisin Geoghegan the Head of Enterprise in Fingal to cut the ribbon on the new Reception and business resource area.
Speaking at the opening of Local Enterprise Week, Paul Reid highlighted the busy schedule lined up: “Local Enterprise Week is a national initiative and over 360 business events are taking place all around the country. In Fingal, as always, we are leading the charge with dozens of practical events for business owner/managers in the region as well as aspiring entrepreneurs. Indeed the level of bookings this year is higher than ever and this is a terrific barometer of how our local businesses are embracing the initiative”.
The highlight of Enterprise Week will be “FEARLESS 2017 – The Entrepreneur’s Journey” featuring Conall O’Móráin of The Sunday Business Show on Today FM. Held in The Riasc Centre in Swords on the evening of Thursday 9th of March, this event promises to be an exciting learning and networking experience for businesses from all across Fingal. Eight successful start-up entrepreneurs will relay how they have overcome challenges in their business, and all eight will be competing for the coveted prize, the “Fingal Enterprise Award Winner 2017” which will be announced on the evening.
Kicking off Local Enterprise Week, over two hundred businesses had booked into the Monday evening seminar ”Doing Business at Dublin Airport”, run in conjunction with the Dublin Airport Authority and Dublin Food Chain on 6th March. John Bolger, Head of Concessions in DAA led a panel of three speakers each of whom highlighted the opportunities that exist for food businesses supplying into the lucrative market in Dublin Airport.
On Tuesday 7th of March, a major Brexit Seminar will be held in the Carlton Airport Hotel with a panel of experts discussing the impact of Brexit on Dublin based businesses. Some of the leading thinkers on Brexit will share their views and help businesses to prepare for the long term implications of the UK’s imminent triggering of Article 50. Julie Sinnamon, Chief Executive of Enterprise Ireland will be joined by John McGrane of the British Irish Chamber, Simon MacAllister of EY, Patricia Callan of the Small Firms Association and renowned economist Dr Edgar Morgenroth of the ESRI. Chief Executives of companies currently already impacted by BREXIT will also feature to give their views on how small businesses, in particular, can prepare for the implications of Brexit.
Whilst many Fingal events are booked out, the Local Enterprise Office has advised that some places are still available for bookings. Oisin Geoghegan, head of Enterprise in Fingal said: “We have over 1,200 businesses already booked onto the various events during this week and the level of interest is unprecedented. It is great to see so many entrepreneurs and small businesses in the region taking up the opportunities that we are providing during Local Enterprise Week. We have the busiest schedule and level of activity in the country here in Fingal and I am delighted that so many organisations and enterprises are actively involved”.
