The Local Enterprise Office is making a public call out on behalf of Waterford City and County Council, seeking expression of interest to supply corporate gifts.

Every year the Council presents dozens of corporate gifts to dignitaries visiting our City and County. The gifts are also brought when Waterford officials are visiting other countries on behalf of the county. Corporate gifts representing our heritage have travelled all over the world, in recent times to countries such as Germany, Spain, Norway, Ukraine and China.

At the launch of the appeal Honor Dunphy of Corporate Services with Waterford City and County Council elaborated on the importance of these gifts, “These are more than just token gifts presented to visitors, they are expected to be a representation of what is best about our City and County. The wealth of heritage that comes with the Waterford name and its international prominence makes the choice of these corporate gifts extremely important. They travel all over the world and are given to only the most influential guests. We take it very seriously and expect our suppliers to also.”

The procurement of these gifts by Waterford City and County Council is not only an honour for the suppliers, but it can also be a lucrative source of income and international publicity. Brid Kirby of the Local Enterprise Office Waterford explains what it entails, “Waterford’s craft and design industry has a rich heritage but is also currently extremely vibrant. We at the LEO have a wide range of local craft clients with international reputations and renown. But we are aware that there might be other businesses not on our radar who could fulfil this requirement. We wish to cast the net wide and see what is on offer.

“We are looking for a range of non-perishable corporate gifts which represent our county at its best to be given to visiting dignitaries or brought abroad as gifts on civic trips.”

The Department of Corporate Services will ultimately select which local suppliers will provide this service, but for now the Local Enterprise Office is seeking expressions of interest from Waterford businesses who think they have product which would be suitable.

Simply visit Waterford’s Local Enterprise Office website and on the home page there is a link where you can submit your expression of interest to be a supplier of corporate gifts for Waterford City and County Council.

Expression of Interest forms must be completed on Submit via the following link https://submit.link/1kQ by Monday the 30th January 2023 by 5pm. 

All completed Expression of Interest Forms will be reviewed and applicants will be contacted by early February whether or not they have been successful. All successful applicants will get to pitch their products in late February.

Any questions can be directed to Jamie Whitty in the Local Enterprise Office by phone call on 051 849905 or email jwhitty@waterfordcouncil.ie