Local Enterprise Office Counts Down to National Women’s Enterprise Day

The 31 Local Enterprise Offices are marking the day with a major national conference in Galway, the theme of which is: ‘Creating Connections – Building Business’, with the Local Enterprise Offices enlisting the help of female entrepreneurs to inspire more women to set up and grow their own businesses.

Revealing details of National Women’s Enterprise Day 2015(#NWED), Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash T.D. was joined by a number of Irish businesswomen who are participating in the event’s programme of Case Studies and Panel Discussions, including Florrie Purcell from The Scullery (Co. Tipperary); Leigh Williams from The Wicklow Brewery, and Ruth Monahan from Appassionata Flowers (Dublin).

Minister Nash said: “Female-owned businesses are increasing in number but women are still under-represented in the world of small business. Increasing the number of female-led start-ups is an integral part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, and Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are key drivers of female entrepreneurship at national, regional and local level. In addition to providing direct grant aid and soft supports to the micro enterprise and small business sector, LEOs have a particular and specific focus on supporting women in business by leading events such as National Women’s Enterprise Day. The aim is to inspire, motivate and support women across the country in running their own businesses, which will not only boost female entrepreneurship but will also contribute to further recovery, more jobs and long term economic growth.”

Tickets for the two day event, which takes place at the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill for the second year running, cost €100 and are available on-line through www.nwed.ie.  The conference also includes an exhibition of enterprise support agencies, one-to-one mentoring clinics and networking sessions.