Local Enterprise Week Events

Date and Time

Event

Monday, 2 March 2026

8.00 am to 
10.00 am

Local Enterprise Week Launch Event

Breakfast launch event with guest speakers discussing local, national and international affairs.  This event will provide networking opportunities for attendees.

Tuesday, 3 March 2026

Student Enterprise Programme

The County Final of the Student Enterprise Programme 2025/2026 takes place in the Knightsbrook Hotel shocasing student busienss ideas with special appearance of the Mini Digi Hub.

Wednesday, 4 March 2026

Imposter Syndrome

This practical workshop looks at how imposter syndrome shows up in business owners and those considering starting a business, and how it affects confidence, decision-making, and engagement with available supports.  The session is particularly suited to Local Enterprise Week, where many participants are exploring ideas, opportunities, or next steps while carrying unspoken self-doubt or hesitation.  Participants are introduced to the concept of Hidden Cognitive Strain as the broader experience that often sits beneath imposter thinking.

This workshop is suitable for:

• people considering starting a business;
• sole traders and early-stage business owners;
• established business owners seeking clarity or renewed engagement.

Common issues explored:

• self-doubt about taking the next step;
• fear of financial risk or getting it wrong;
• overthinking and hesitation;
• reluctance around networking or visibility;
• uncertainty about where to seek support.

This workshop is delivered by Jason McDaid, a practising senior fire engineer and business owner with experience of high-pressure professional environments. 

Financial Wellness (in-person 45 minute clinics)

A practical one-to-one clinic with our Financial Mentor, Bernadette Farrell of ACE Training.  This clinic is for clients who have general finance queries or need direction with particular aspects of their business finances.  These clinics should help you to keep your finances on track.  This session would also suit if you have recently attended one of our finance training courses and have further queries.

Cyber Resilience: A Key Part of Business Wellness (online)

Running a small business comes with enough pressures, your cybersecurity shouldn’t be one of them.  In this practical session, Jan Carroll from Fortify Institute will explore cyber resilience as an essential part of business wellness, helping owners build confidence in how they protect and run their business day to day.

The talk focuses on simple, realistic actions small businesses can take to prepare for and recover from cyber incidents, support business continuity, and reduce stress, without needing technical expertise or large budgets. A resilient business is not just more secure, it’s healthier and more sustainable.

Green Wellness (in-person clinics)

These Green for Business clinics support SMEs to assess and improve their sustainability practices while enhancing business wellness.  Through a practical in‑person or online consultation, participants will review energy use, waste management, resource efficiency and sustainable work practices.  Each business receives tailored guidance to reduce environmental impact, improve operational efficiency and support long‑term financial and organisational wellbeing.

Thursday, 5 March 2026

Practical AI Skill and Tools for SMEs (online)

This practical course introduces small and medium-sized businesses to everyday AI tools that can save time, reduce admin and support better decision-making. Participants will learn how AI can be used safely and realistically across areas such as content creation, customer communications, planning, research, and day-to-day operations without needing technical knowledge or large budgets. The focus is on practical use, confidence, and real business application, not theory.

Friday, 7 March 2026

International Women's Day 2026

Join us for a three-course lunch to celebrate International Women’s Day for our Women in Business and Tech event in the Station House Hotel, Kilmessan.

From SEO to AIO - AI Optimisation for SMEs (online)

Artificial Intelligence is changing how people find and trust businesses online. While traditional SEO fundamentals like keywords, backlinks and metadata still matter, AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini now look for clear, helpful and trustworthy information across all content formats not just keyword-heavy text. This practical session shows Irish SMEs how to move from Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) to AI Optimisation (AIO). Learn how to make your website and multimedia content easy for both people and AI systems to understand, recommend and trust, ensuring your business appears in the summarised and conversational search results of the future.

Digital Marketing Clinics (online)

A practical one-to-one clinic on setting up and using social media and digital marketing for your business. Tools covered include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik-Tok, LinkedIn.  Individual sessions can be booked for 10.00 am, 11.00 am and 12 noon.