HIGH TURNOUT AT LOCAL ENTERPRISE WEEK 2019 EVENTS
COUNTY WICKLOW ENTERPRENEURS & SMALL BUSINESSES GATHER FOR A WEEK OF BUSNIESS ADVICE CLINICS, TRAINING & NETWORKING
County Wicklow’s small businesses and entrepreneurs gathered in numbers during Local Enterprise Week this week, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices across the country, which is now in its 5th year. With over 11,000 expected to attend the 370 events nationwide, and the threat of Brexit looming for small businesses, this was the most significant Local Enterprise Week to date.
Run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEO), events took place from Monday 4th March to Friday 8th March, and all events were open to all, particularly entrepreneurs and those with small businesses. The events in Co.Wicklow covered Human Resource Management, Digital Marketing and Business Advice clinics, a sales training course, Start Your Own Business Course and a Seminar called: Working Smarter in Business using Techwhich was attended by over 40 business owners and entrepreneurs.
Close to 100 LEO Wicklow clients availed of the free and highly subsidized supports and training opportunities during the week to brush up on essential business skills in order to grow their business. The Tech seminar with guest speaker Noel Davidson highlighted the numerous free apps available to business managers that can safe them time and money. One participant commented on the seminar afterwards saying ‘That was just Magic’.
The Local Enterprise Offices support over 7,000 small Irish businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide who employ in excess of 36,000 people. The LEOs supported the creation of 3,600 jobs in 2018 with funding to small businesses and provide a range of supports such as mentoring, training and industry specific expert advice to assist businesses who are at any stage of their development. The Local Enterprise Offices are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland in partnership with the Local Authorities.
Vibeke Delahunt, Head of Enterprise, emphasised what a unique opportunity this is for businesses and entrepreneurs around the country; “The Local Enterprise Office are an essential resource for any entrepreneur or small company in Ireland and Local Enterprise Week offers everyone the opportunity to understand what the LEO offers. It is also a fantastic chance for people to learn from the array of great speakers and to network with other likeminded entrepreneurs and business people in their area. Small Irish businesses rely on the support of those in their communities, particularly in those tough first years and with the uncertainty of Brexit looming. Local Enterprise Week is the perfect opportunity to learn what resources are available on your door step and who in your network can help your business to plan, start and grow.”
For more information on Local Enterprise Week and how to find events in each of the 31 Local Enterprise Office areas log on to www.LocalEnterprise.ie/LocalEnterpriseWeek and you can join the Local Enterprise conversation on social media with #MakingItHappen.
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