Event will allow small business owners to informally ask questions and get advice from a diverse mix of Government Agencies
Presentations will focus on key regulatory requirements and the assistance available to help entrepreneurs develop their businesses
Event is supported by SFA, Chambers Ireland, ISME, RGData, ACCA and the Hardware Association of Ireland
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D., together with the Minister for Business and Employment, Gerald Nash T.D., launched a one-stop-shop event for SMEs, start-ups and potential entrepreneurs called ‘Taking Care of Business’.
This free event will take place on Thursday 16th October in the Printworks Conference Centre in Dublin Castle.
The half-day event is specifically targeted at people thinking of starting a business as well as small business owners and managers. Attending the event will allow entrepreneurs to:
- Better understand the key regulations that affect them so that they can focus on the main task of running their business;
- Meet experts from a broad range of public bodies in an informal setting;
- Find out about advice and supports that are available from across the public sector.
This initiative of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation will bring together 27 State bodies in each location and builds on a pilot event in October 2013 in Dublin Castle, which was attended by over 500 people. The feedback from the pilot event was overwhelmingly positive (see Notes for Editors).
The State offices and agencies represented will provide information across a wide range of areas, including:
- Tax, employment and Health & Safety obligations;
- Legal requirements for setting up and running a business;
- Requirements in areas such as food and environmental safety;
- Advice on government procurement and intellectual property;
- Assistance and supports from enterprise agencies and Local Authorities.
Minister Bruton said: “Two thirds of all new jobs come from start-ups in their first five years of existence, and we are putting in place a range of measures through the Action Plan for Jobs to provide better supports in this area. One crucial area is awareness – the Government has a range of great schemes to support start-ups and small businesses, however many business are simply unaware of them. As part of our drive to encourage more start-ups and support more SMEs, we are determined to better promote these schemes and encourage more businesses to take them up.
“Taking Care of Business” is part of a wider effort to communicate better with business and promote awareness and understanding of the full range of Government supports that are available for start-ups and the SME sector. This event will allow small business owners to informally ask questions and get advice from a diverse mix of government agencies. I urge businesses to take part and look forward to being involved on 16th October.”
Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash said: “It is essential for SMEs to make the most of the advice and supports available to them so I encourage entrepreneurs and those thinking of starting a business to capitalise on this chance to hear from a wide variety of agencies, in one location.
“This will also be a great opportunity for people to ask questions and raise individual concerns face-to-face with staff from across the public sector. The Department is committed to engaging with the small business community and this event will help SMEs to better understand the regulatory environment”.
A number of representative bodies from industry are supporting the event and will be available to talk to attendees on the day. ‘Taking Care of Business’ will be opened by Minister Richard Bruton. Donal de Buitléir, Director of Publicpolicy.ie will Chair the first set of presentations. Gina Quinn, CEO of Dublin Chamber of Commerce and Senator Feargal Quinn will Chair the remaining sessions.
To register for the event and for more details including the running order of presentations and the full list of State Bodies attending, please visit www.takingcareofbusiness.ie. Early booking is strongly advised as there are a limited number of places available.
There will be two separate strands running concurrently with presentations from State bodies in one area and information stands manned by staff from these bodies in a separate area. The concise presentations will focus on key regulatory requirements as well as assistance available to help entrepreneurs develop their businesses. Experts will be available at the information stands to speak directly to attendees and answer questions throughout the event.
Results from surveys of the event last year include:
- 89% of attendees surveyed found the format mixing presentations and information stands worked well;
- 80% agreed that their business would benefit from having attended the event;
- The broad range of agencies in one location and the engaging presentations were cited most often as the best aspects of the event.
The State office and agencies represented at the event will be:
- Local Enterprise Offices
- Revenue Commissioners
- Enterprise Ireland
- Competition Authority
- Companies Registration Office
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Food Safety Authority of Ireland
- Health and Safety Authority
- Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement
- National Employment Rights Authority
- Office of Government Procurement
- Department of Social Protection / Intreo
- Data Protection Commissioner
- National Standards Authority of Ireland
- Microfinance Ireland
- Credit Review Office
- Dublin County Council
- Solvit (informal problem-solving network for EU citizens and businesses)
- Patents Office
- IntertradeIreland
- Enterprise Europe Network
- European Commission
- Supporting SME’s online tool (Access to Finance)
- Skillnets
- Solas
- Pension Authority
- Injuries Board
‘Taking Care of Business’ is supported by SFA, Chambers Ireland, ISME, RGDATA, ACCA, IBEC and the Hardware Association of Ireland.
The twitter hashtag for the events is #TCOB14.
Taking Care of Business Flyer
