LEO Highlights from 2017 show that -

• 7,135 new jobs (gross) and 3,760 jobs (net) created by LEO backed client companies, with jobs growth across every county.
• 30,373 people participated in business training programmes.
• 8,393 mentoring assignments were provided to small business owners to give guidance and advice around key business issues.
• 1,179 business projects received direct financial assistance.

The results from the Annual Employment Survey, compiled by Enterprise Ireland, show that there are now 37,485 people employed by 7,182 small businesses and start-ups that have received support from the Local Enterprise Offices.

30,373 people participated in 1,891 different training programmes with the LEOs, including ‘Start Your Own Business’ and ‘Management Development’ courses.

8,393 mentoring assignments took place between small business owners and a panel of 713 business mentors in 2017.

A total of 1,179 business projects were approved for direct financial assistance.

The 31 LEOs nationwide, run in partnership by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities, provide a ‘first stop shop’ for the supports available to entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses.

Speaking during ‘Local Enterprise Week,’ Minister for Business Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys and Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen congratulated the Local Enterprise Offices for the support they gave to small businesses across the country and for supporting job creation in every county.

Minister Humphreys said: “Local Enterprise Offices helped many thousands of people last year to start-up or grow their own businesses by delivering a suite of financial, training and information supports across every county and region, resulting in the creation of 7,135 jobs right across the country. This Government has a clear focus on regional jobs and investment, and the LEOs play a crucial role in this effort, particularly through the Regional Actions Plans for Jobs. I am delighted that the job results for 2017 are so strong, and look forward to further collaboration with the LEOs in 2018.”

Minister Breen also welcomed the performance figures, saying: “I want to congratulate the LEOs on another tremendous performance in 2017. In a challenging business environment, LEO clients have contributed substantially to economic development throughout the country, especially outside of the main urban centers. As we celebrate Local Enterprise Week, I want to pay tribute to the achievements of small businesses, micro-enterprises and LEO teams, as they work together, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities, to develop local enterprise opportunities and create sustainable jobs.”

Greg Swift, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Dublin City, speaking on behalf of the Local Enterprise Offices, said: “The key message we would like to get across during Local Enterprise Week is that if you want to either start or grow your own business in 2018, come and talk to your Local Enterprise Office. Through the network of 31 LEO offices in local authorities, we helped more than 30,000 people last year alone through training, mentoring, microfinance loans and direct financial assistance.”

Brendan Flood, Divisional Manager, Regions and Entrepreneurship, Enterprise Ireland said; “As these figures show, LEOs are helping an increasing number of businesses with global ambition to scale up and grow internationally through a range of new supports and programmes. Enterprise Ireland will continue to work closely with the LEOs and our Local Authority partners to achieve balanced growth throughout every region and to help more small businesses prepare for Brexit.”

Speaking on behalf of Local Authorities, Anna-Marie Delaney, Offaly Local Authority Chief Executive and Chair of the CCMA Committee on Economic Development & Enterprise said: “LEOs are playing a pivotal role in local job creation nationwide and this is reflected in very strong performance figures for 2017. I believe that the work of the LEOs, which is being showcased during Local Enterprise Week, complements and enhances the broader economic development remit of the Local Authorities.”

Local Enterprise Offices are hosting over 300 events this week for Local Enterprise Week, which finishes on Friday, March 9^th. Event details are available from www.localenterprise.ie

Today’s announcement was made at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation on Kildare Street in Dublin, where Minister Humphreys and Minister Breen met with four small business owners that benefitted from LEO supports in 2017. They included Patrick McLaughlin from Silver Strand Rope Works in Donegal, Kelda Clermont from Urban Artisan in Dublin City, Neil Wisdom from Intellicom in Offaly and Alan Jackson of Qualitas Electronics in Meath.

About the entrepreneurs that met with Minister Humphreys and Minister Breen:

Silver Strand Rope Works (supported by LEO Donegal)                                                                

Company Name: Silver Strand Rope Works Ltd (established in 1990)                                            

Promoter’s Name: Patrick McLaughlin

What the company does: Manufactures rope, string and strapping for domestic and international markets                                                                                                                            

Business Address: Ballynally, Moville, Co. Donegal                                                                            

Online information: www.silverstrandropeworks.com                                                                    

Employees: 8                                                                                                                                                   

LEO Supports: Business Expansion Grant

Urban Artisan (supported by LEO Dublin City)                                                                                  

Company Name: Urban Artisan (established in 2015)                                                                  

Promoter’s Name: Kelda Clermont                                                                                                            

What the company does: Manufactures branded superfood snacks and energy balls for the retail sector                                                                                                                                        

Business Address: 71 Camden Street, Dublin 2                                                                              

Online information: http://www.dublinfoodchain.ie/producer-directory/prepared-foods/company.php?id=39                                                                                                                  

Employees: 8                                                                                                                                              

LEO Supports: Business Priming Grant

Intellicom (supported by LEO Offaly)                                                                          

Company Name: Intellicom Ireland Ltd (established in 2005/management buy-out in 2013)

Promoter’s Name: Neil Wisdom                                                                                                                

What the company does: Telecommunications provider to companies in Europe                      

Business Address: Intellicom House, St. Brendan’s Street, Birr, County Offaly                                

Online information: www.intellicom.io                                                                                            

Employees: 11                                                                                                                                              

LEO Supports: Business Expansion Grant and LEO Innovation Investment Fund

Qualitas Electronics (supported by LEO Meath)

Company Name: Qualitas Electronics (established in 2016)

Promoter’s Name: Alan Jackson

What the company does: Electronics assembly services for technology clients

Business Address: Unit 5, Site 31, Duleek Business Park, Duleek, Co. Meath

Online info: www.qualitaselectronics.ie

Employees: 2

LEO Supports: Business Priming Grant

Local Enterprise Office Annual Employment Survey Results 2017

*FT & PT = Full time and Part time