WICKLOW CELEBRATES BIGGEST EVER NATIONAL WOMEN’S ENTERPRISE DAY
17 EVENTS TAKE PLACE NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING EVENT FOR CO. WICKLOW ENTREPRENEURS
The largest-ever programme of events for National Women’s Enterprise Day has taken place across the country this week (on October 17th). An annual initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), including LEO Wicklow, the theme for this year’s event was “Making It Happen” with the aim of inspiring more women in Ireland to start and grow their own business.
The networking event for entrepreneurs in Co. Wicklow took place at beautiful Ballyknocken Cookery School, Ashford. Over 40 local female entrepreneur andbusinesswomen participated and enjoyed facilitated networking, while cooking Italian antipasti with the fabulous Catherine Fulvio. Later, Catherine delivered a motivational talk on her rise from local B&B owner to celebrity chef, emphasising how she made it happen, tying in with the theme of NWED 2019 which is ‘Making it Happen’.
National Women’s Enterprise Day was officially opened by Pat Breen T.D., Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, who attended the Dublin event in Fingal. He said: “It is important for Ireland as a country that there should be a far greater participation of females in our entrepreneurial landscape and it is very positive to see the stats moving in the right direction. Events like National Women’s Enterprise Day play a key role in continuing that momentum. Ireland has a marvellous entrepreneurial culture that is evident across the world and we need more females to become part of the journey. Today is about celebrating those who have already done it and encouraging others to take the first step. I would encourage all budding female entrepreneurs to contact their Local Enterprise Office and check out the range of supports that are available.”
Vibeke Delahunt of Local Enterprise Office Wicklow, said; “Now in its thirteenth year, National Women’s Enterprise Day is an important milestone in the Local Enterprise Office calendar. It gives us the opportunity to highlight the success stories of women in County Wicklow, who continue to do amazing things in business, across every sector. The day itself is also an opportunity for businesswomen to network, engage, share tips and advice and to find out what supports are available for their business through their Local Enterprise Office.”
National Women’s Enterprise Day has grown year-on-year with 17 events taking place across the country with over 1,700female entrepreneurs in attendance. This growth in popularity has been reflected in the national growth in female entrepreneurship across the country. There was an 18% increase in female entrepreneurs taking Local Enterprise Office training programmes last year as almost 22,000 female entrepreneurs and businesswomen engaged with their LEO on supports in 2018. The latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report for Ireland also shows that nearly 40% of new business owners in 2018 were women.
National Women’s Enterprise Day is just one of the initiatives of the Local Enterprise Offices aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and assisting companies to start up and grow. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme, Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE), Local Enterprise Showcase in the RDS and the Local Enterprise Village at the National Ploughing Championships.
Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.
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