LOCAL ENTERPRISE WEEK GOES VIRTUAL FOR 2021
DISCOVER WHICH SUPPORTS & PROGRAMMES WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN 2021
Now in its 6th year Local Enterprise Week is going virtual for the first time. The week-long series of event’s takes place on the first week in March and will see small businesses and budding entrepreneurs gather online across the country. An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, thousands of attendees are expected at over 200 virtual events nationally which are aimed at supporting small businesses and fostering entrepreneurship. This year will also see the introduction of 10 ‘Spotlight Events’ that are open to attendees from any county.
Local Enterprise Office Wicklow has launched their programme of events for Local Enterprise Week 2021. With a range of events taking place from the 1st – 5th March, there is something for everyone. Headlining events in Wicklow include:
- Introducing Lead Yourself, Lead Others, Lead Your Business! Taking place online on the 5th March. This highly interactive and collaborative workshop will equip business owners and managers to clearly understand what leadership really is, and how harnessing its potential will build greater influence within your business. It will benefit business owners and managers to gain greater control of how they lead themselves resulting in more efficient time management to maximize the impact they have on their business.
- Brexit officially took place on the 1st January however, there are still significant issues that can arise for Irish businesses. With these issues in mind Local Enterprise Office Wicklow is running CustomsMentoring Clinics on the 3rd March to provide business owners and managers with the opportunity to meet with customs consultant, Michael McGill, to discuss the particular circumstances for their business with regard to the documentary and procedural requirements that need to be put in place to ensure they can continue to trade with the UK.
- Being able to trade online is more important now than ever for Wicklow businesses. The Trading Online Voucher Seminar on the 4th March will emphasize the benefits of trading online as well as guiding attendees on how to apply for the Trading Online Voucher worth €2,500 (50% of eligible costs up to the maximum of €2,500)
The week is a prime opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs in County Wicklow to sample the range of supports that are on offer from their Local Enterprise Office. This will include financial supports, selling, networking, Brexit support, social media workshops, and LEAN programmes. All Wicklow events can be booked through: www.localenterprise.ie/Wicklow/Enterprise-Development/Local-Enterprise-Week/ and you can join the conversation on social media using #MakingItHappen
As this year Local Enterprise Week theme is ‘Making It Happen Online’, 10 ‘Spotlight Events’ will be taking place that are open to participation from businesses or entrepreneurs in every county. These events can be booked through: www.localenterprise.ie/week and include:
- Benefits of Green for your Business – Launching Green for Micro. This practical ‘how to’ event will help you to ‘Green’ your business and benefit from practical guidance on how to make your business more sustainable. Learn how to market your green business credentials as a unique selling point. Attendees will also learn how to access ‘Green for Micro’ supports from their Local Enterprise Office. Organised by Local Enterprise Office Dublin City,
- Growing Lean: One Small Step or One Giant Leap, Getting Started with Lean. The biggest challenge which many business- owners face, is how to get started with LEAN. This event will set out the many supports available as well as an introduction to Lean Thinking – which will cover the basics, and how it is applied. It will also feature a selection of businesspeople who will share their experience of introducing LEAN into their businesses. Organised by Local Enterprise Office Kildare.
- S.M.A.R.Tech for StartUps. This dynamic event is aimed at technology start-ups who want to learn more about supports for their business growth. Speakers from both private and public sectors will discuss new digital transformation technologies such as IoT, Industry 4.0, Automation, Robotics and Data Analysis. This event includes a virtual tour of the Dell Customer Solution Centre and the new campus in Limerick of the Confirm Centre for Smart Manufacturing. Organised by Local Enterprise Office Clare.
- Masterclass: Health checking your business for its forward journey. Assess the financial health of your business and get to grips with working capital and cashflow management. Organised by LEO Wexford and delivered by Blaise Brosnan who also delivers the Management Development Programme in Wicklow.
- Creative Connections: Enabling your B-2-B Online Opportunities. Aimed at entrepreneurs in creative sectors, this event is designed to showcase opportunities through developing online tools for selling to the Trade. It will provide a forum for best practice sharing with expert speakers and peer learning. The event will begin with a case study on what trade buyers are looking for. The topic of how to display your product in an online environment, your virtual showroom, will be tackled next. Hear from two creative entrepreneurs who have travelled the road of developing B2B online selling tools.
This high energy, solution focussed event will conclude with a group discussion. If you’re in the creative sector and looking to drive business growth, this seminar is just for you. Organised by LEO Carlow.
Head of Enterprise, Vibeke Delahunt stated; “Local Enterprise Week is a chance for small businesses and for those possible future start-ups to see the full range of supports out there for them. No matter what their business challenge or sector the Local Enterprise Offices will be putting on events for everyone, be it Brexit mentoring, trading online, marketing, applying leadership training, or simply, how to start a business, then it will be covered. It is also a great chance to network and broaden your connections in business so use it to the advantage of your business, or business idea.”
The Local Enterprise Offices located in the local authorities and funded through Enterprise Ireland support over 7,000 small Irish businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide. Since their establishment in 2014 they have helped create over 18,000 jobs and provide a range of supports to small businesses including mentoring, training and sector specific expert to help guide businesses at any stage of their development. These events can be booked through: www.localenterprise.ie/week.
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