Minister Ged Nash announces details of National Women’s Enterprise Day, in October 2015
Local Enterprise Office South Dublin is encouraging businesswomen and aspiring entrepreneurs from the region to support National Women’s Enterprise Day on Thursday, October 21st.
The 31 Local Enterprise Offices are marking the day with a major national conference in Galway and this year’s theme 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) on October 21st, 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.”
Launching the countdown to NWED locally, Colm Ward, Head of Enterprise, LEO South Dublin said: “National Women’s Enterprise Day is an important annual initiative from the Local Enterprise Office, highlighting the supports, information and advice on offer to those thinking of starting a business or already running one. By putting the success stories of Irish female entrepreneurs in the spotlight, we’re encouraging more potential businesswomen to follow in their footsteps and we’ll support them along the way.”
Guest Speakers at National Women’s Enterprise Day 2015 include Oonagh O’Hagan, CEO, Meagher’s Pharmacy and UK-based entrepreneur, business mentor and author, Deirdre Bounds. Other successful female entrepreneurs participating in the conference’s Case Studies and Panel Discussions are: Triona MacGiolla Ri from Aro Digital Strategy (Co. Galway); Anne Cusack from Critical Healthcare (Co. Westmeath); Claire Bannon from Avokado & Co (Co. Clare) and Niamh O’ Neill from Niamh O’ Neill (fashion label) (Co. Louth).
Conference Facilitator for National Women’s Enterprise Day 2015 will be Síle Seoige with Clare Culligan facilitating a Business Networking Event on the eve of the conference, on Wednesday, October 21st.
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.
Organised by the network of Local Enterprise Offices, which is the first stop shop for microenterprises and small businesses, National Women’s Enterprise Day is supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities Network.
Further updates are available by searching #nwed on Twitter and Facebook.