Minister launches local programme for National Women’s Enterprise Day
Seven events taking place around the country on Wednesday, October 19th to highlight success stories and to encourage more women to access enterprise supports
Regional event taking place in Trim, Co. Meath.
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D. has launched the full programme of events to mark the 10th annual National Women’s Enterprise Day, which is being organised by the Local Enterprise Offices on Wednesday, October 19th 2016.
Local Enterprise Office Wicklow is organising an event in the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath to celebrate the success stories of Irish female entrepreneurs and to encourage more women across the region to access enterprise supports for starting or growing a business.
Special guests at the regional event include Alison Banton, owner of Brooke & Shoals, a Greystones based home fragrance company with a production unit in Kilcoole, who export their high-end fragranced candles, diffusers and perfumes worldwide. Alison has a fascinating story of growing her business from her shop in Greystones, to selling on board Aer Lingus aircraft and working with LEO Wicklow, to now exporting to Europe and beyond as an Enterprise Ireland client. With a background in financial services marketing Alison is a driven entrepreneur, who is very generous with her advice, and LEO Wicklow are honoured that she is representing Co. Wicklow as panellist on the 19th October at the Mid East NWED event in Trim. All current and aspiring women in business in County Wicklow are urged to attend and listen to Alison’s practical tips and inspiration.
All 31 Local Enterprise Offices are behind the initiative and they have enlisted the help of established entrepreneurs to act as Regional Ambassadors, to share their success stories at events that day.
This year’s Regional Ambassadors are Rachel Doyle of the Arboretum in Carlow and Wicklow, Nicola Byrne of 11890 and Cloud 90 in Dublin, Valerie Kingston of Glenilen Farm in Cork, Aisling Hanley of Keenwah Quinoa in Galway, Hannah Wrixon of Last Minute Minders in Limerick, Audrey Gaffney of Audrey Gaffney Associates in Meath, Regina Bushell of Grovelands Childcare in Westmeath and Margaret Reilly of CTR Manufacturing in Louth.
Launching the full programme of events, Minister Mitchell O’ Connor said: “The theme for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day on October 19th is the ‘road to success’ and I want to encourage more women across every region to start their entrepreneurship journey by developing their business idea or expanding their business. Last year, the Local Enterprise Offices in partnership with the Local Authorities provided invaluable supports including financial and mentoring to 6,250 female-run businesses while more than 11,000 female entrepreneurs participated in specialist training programmes. By highlighting the range of Government supports that are available, I want to increase the numbers of female entrepreneurs starting businesses across all regions of the country which will further enhance our economy by creating more quality jobs in Ireland. I would encourage women to contact their Local Enterprise Office to see what supports are available to them.”
Sheelagh Daly, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Wicklow said: “Through financial assistance, microfinance loans, mentoring, training and networking, the Local Enterprise Offices in Local Authorities supported 1,000 more female-run enterprises last year, compared with 2014.”
Enterprise Ireland is also supporting National Women’s Enterprise Day 2016 and its CEO, Julie Sinnamon, said: “One in five high potential start-up companies supported by Enterprise Ireland is female-led — just five years ago, that figure was less than one in ten companies. We are very keen to work with women starting innovative businesses that are focused on exports, growth and job creation. Our aim is to continue to support and increase the number of new and existing female entrepreneurs with ambitions for success in international markets.”
Director of Services with the Enterprise and Corporate Services Department at Wicklow County Council, Mr. Thomas Murphy, who also attended the launch at the Arboretum in Kilquade, encouraged local Wicklow female entrepreneurs to engage with the supports provided by LEO Wicklow, saying “There is a wide range of enterprise supports on offer and so we’re encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners to find out about those supports at the regional event on National Women’s Enterprise Day 2016”.
Tickets for National Women’s Enterprise Day events can be booked from the Local Enterprise Offices through www.nwed.ie.
