KILKENNY’S SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS URGED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOCAL ENTERPRISE WEEK 2020

The first week in March will see small businesses and budding entrepreneurs gather across the country for Local Enterprise Week 2020.  An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, thousands of attendees are expected at over 300 events across the country during the week aimed at supporting small businesses and fostering entrepreneurship.

The programme events being run by Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny for Local Enterprise Week 2020 has been launched and with a range of events taking place from the 2^nd – 6^th March, there is something for everyone. If you are considering setting up in business or in the early start up stages the Start-up Business Seminar- Learn, Grow, Network on Monday evening 2^nd March provides an opportunity to understand and find out more about the services and funding provided by organisations with a remit for enterprise development. It is also an opportunity to hear from a panel of Kilkenny based entrepreneurs including John Duggan, from the fintech company Loanitt Ltd, jeweler Kay Lyng, K Kajoux, Helen Costelloe, the Cutting Veg retail outlet and joint promoters Richard Connolly & TJ Reid, TJ Reid Fitness. The MC for this event will be Blaise Brosnan, experienced business entrepreneur, consultant and author.

For entrepreneurs who are considering a food /drink production operation or farm diversification, the Local Enterprise Office in conjunction with Teagasc and Kilkenny Leader Partnership are hosting an information seminar on Wednesday morning 4^th March in the Springhill Court Hotel, Kilkenny.

The format of the event involves a panel discussion hosted by journalist Matt O’Keeffe. The panel will consist of entrepreneurs from various sectors, stages of development, etc. to talk about their experiences and includes Jimmy Mulhall, Coolanowle Meats, Helen Murphy Mooncoin Beetroot, Rosemary O’Shea Tullyhay Farm and Patricia Butler, Butler Family Farm.

Also speaking at the event will be Anne Ging, Chairperson of the Kilkenny Food Strategy Committee and owner of Ballykeefe distillery. She will be presenting the various objectives under the new food strategy.

Teagasc artisan food specialist, Eddie O Neill, who is based in Moorepark, will be outlining the opportunities for start-up, and for existing food companies, to avail of the expertise and facilities in Teagasc.  There will be opportunities to engage one-to-one with relevant agencies who will be on hand to discuss supports and possible funding schemes.

On Wednesday afternoon 4^th March a Networking Lunch for Women in Business will be held in the Hoban Hotel from 12.30pm – 2pm. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet with our guest speaker Margaret Hoctor who will share her business journey and networking tips.

For existing businesses, the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny is hosting an event in relation to LEAN for Micro which is designed to inform and encourage clients to adopt LEAN business principles in their small business to increase performance and competitiveness. Our panel includes Michael Maguire of Mechanical Modular Solutions, Seamus Scully of Arc Management Systems (LEAN Service provider) and Robert Hernan of Enterprise Ireland who will explore share their experiences of LEAN and the cost savings and benefits it can bring to your business. MC on the morning will be Edmond Connolly of the South East Regional Skills Forum.

The week is an opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs to sample the range of supports that are on offer from their Local Enterprise Office related to a whole host of areas.  This will include financial supports, selling, networking, Brexit support, social media workshops, LEAN programmes and sessions dealing with how to make your business more sustainable. 

Fiona Deegan, Head of Enterprise; “Local Enterprise Week is a chance for small businesses and for those possible future start-ups to see the full range of supports out there for them.  No matter what their business challenge or sector the Local Enterprise Offices will be putting on events for everyone, be it LEAN workshops, trading online, sales and marketing, mastering social media, or simply, how to start a business, then it will be covered.  It is also a great chance to network and broaden your connections in business so use it to the advantage of your business, or business idea.”

For more information on Local Enterprise Week and how to find events in County Kilkenny go to www.localenterprise.ie/kilkenny and join the conversation on social media using #MakingItHappen