LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICE KILKENNY NOW SUPPORTING OVER 192 SMALL BUSINESSES AND 48 JOBS ACCORDING TO NEW FIGURES

Today, Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail, Alan Dillon, T.D., announced the annual results of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) for 2025 which showed that Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny supported companies created 48 jobs in 2025.

The net jobs created by Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny supported clients in 2025 was 48, which takes into account businesses that amalgamated, ceased trading and those that transferred on to Enterprise Ireland.  

The new figures show that the LEO Kilkenny financially supported 192 small businesses in their portfolio across the county these companies in turn employ 1,119 people. 

The total national figures for the Local Enterprise Offices across the country were announced with the LEOs now financially supporting 40,285 jobs across 7,148 companies. 

The LEOs also provide substantial funded supports to thousands of other small businesses across the country with programmes such as the Grow Digital Voucher, Lean for Business and Green for Business along with training and mentoring.      

Minister Alan Dillon T.D., said; “The 31 Local Enterprise Offices continue to be the backbone of local economic development, supporting 40,285 jobs in 2025, the highest level since their establishment. Last year alone, LEO client companies created 7,261 new jobs, delivering a 7% increase on 2024 and marking the 12th consecutive year of jobs growth.

Crucially, 82% of these new jobs were created outside Dublin, demonstrating the impact of targeted local supports in every region. From digitalisation to sustainability and export development, our LEOs are helping small businesses compete and scale. Government remains firmly committed to strengthening these supports so that entrepreneurs nationwide can continue to grow and thrive.”

The Local Enterprise Offices were to the fore in supporting small businesses across the country in 2025, helping thousands to become secure funding, upskill and avail of supports to becoming more sustainable and competitive.  Recent supports such as the Grow Digital Voucher enables small businesses to take their first steps in digitalisation and the Market Explorer Grant supports companies in looking at new markets. 

Aileen McGrath, Head of Enterprise LEO Kilkenny, said “These figures highlight the significant impact that the Local Enterprise Offices and their clients are making in driving economic growth across the country.  The creation of over 7,000 jobs is only a small part of the role that LEOs are playing in fostering entrepreneurship and growing enterprise in towns, villages and communities all over Ireland

The Local Enterprise Offices located in the local authorities and funded through Enterprise Ireland support thousands of small Irish businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide.  Since their establishment in 2014 they have been for the first stop shop for entrepreneurs and small businesses and providing a range of supports including financial, mentoring, training and sector specific expertise to help guide businesses at any stage of their development. 

For further information:

LEO Kilkenny on email info@leo.kilkennycoco.ie or call 056-7752662