CARLOW BUSINESS TO GET PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS OPPORTUNITY  

A small business from Carlow could one of 31 who get a chance to exhibit as part of this year’s Local Enterprise Village at the Ploughing Championships in September.  

The largest outdoor event in Europe will see over 250,000 visitors across the three days from the 15th to 17th September. The Local Enterprise Village, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, will house small businesses from every sector and from across the country and they are opening applications for businesses to get involved.  

Small businesses are being asked to enquire with Local Enterprise Office Carlow about eligibility to take part and can contact them through www.localenterprise.ie.carlow or email enterprise@carlowcoco.ie   

The selected business will get the opportunity to exhibit at the event for the full three days and will be fully trained by the Local Enterprise Office team in merchandising, sales, and marketing to help maximise their participation at the event. 

Year on year the Local Enterprise Village proves to be one of the most popular destinations and is located right in the heart of the Ploughing Championships. 

Sarah Byrne Business Advisor noted that “The National Ploughing Championship is one of the biggest occasions on the Irish calendar and there are very few events that draw a crowd as large as this over three days. For a small business this is a huge opportunity to engage with thousands of prospective customers every day and this could have a significant impact on its business. We will be working with them all across the summer on their products, marketing and merchandising for the event so they can maximise this amazing opportunity so we’re looking forward to hearing from businesses who want to get involved.”  

The Local Enterprise Village is just one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.  

Speaking about the opportunity for Carlow companies, Cllr. Ken Murnane, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council said "The National Ploughing Championships represent the very best of Irish enterprise, and I am calling on our local Carlow businesses to seize this incredible opportunity. To have a presence in the Local Enterprise Village is to put your brand in front of a quarter of a million people. It is a game-changer for any small business looking to scale up. I strongly encourage every eligible entrepreneur in the county to submit their application—don't let this chance to represent Carlow pass you by."

Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception ten years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 35,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice, and financial supports to small businesses.  

For further information: see www.LocalEnterprise.ie  

Link to application here https://submit.link/4Qg