The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D.  has welcomed plans by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) to host more than 380inspiring events around the country for an estimated 14,500 start-ups, aspiringentrepreneurs and business owners during Local Enterprise Week 2017.The focus of Local Enterprise Week is to increase awareness of the range ofLEO supports and services available to micro and small enterprises.

Running from March 5^th to 10^th, all 31 LEOs, including LEO Kilkenny will be celebrating Local Enterprise Week with a range of events for start-ups, aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses in their area.

Entrepreneurs of all ages will have the opportunity to participate in workshops, seminars, advice clinics and one-to-one mentoring in areas such as: starting a business, growing a business through digital marketing, financing and being Brexit-ready.

Highlights of Local Enterprise Week in Kilkenny are expected to include:

• The commencement of our flagship Owner Manager Development Programme on Tuesday delivered by Blaise Brosnan, Management resource Institute
• Digital marketing Advanced Programme on Wednesday delivered by Sandra Hennessy, Be Dynamic
• Take it to the Banks in 2017 Seminar with an emphasis on getting Brexit-ready presented by John Finn, MD of Treasury Solutions Ltd,
• Business Idea Generation Workshop on Friday delivered by Terry Harmer, NLC Training
• Launch of Student Enterprise Programme County Final on Friday on KCLR96Fm

Local Enterprise Week officially kicks-off on Sunday, March 5^th with the national final of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition in Google Headquarters in Dublin.  IBYE, which is an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices and supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland, achieved an unprecedented number of entries across all 31 LEOs with more than 1,800 young people competing for the €2 million IBYE investment fund. Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny is represented in the IBYE competition by Mel Clohosey, Social Feedia and Leanne Nolan, vow2wow.com.  

Welcoming the extensive range of events planned by the LEOs for Local Enterprise Week, Minister Mitchell O’ Connor said: “I am very impressed with the comprehensive programme of events organised by the LEOs for Local Enterprise Week 2017. I would encourage every start-up and small business owner to make it their business to check out and participate in the events taking place in their locality. It is important that anyone starting or growing a business is fully aware of the extensive range of enterprise supports that are available to them. As set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, 2017, I also want to encourage more micro and small businesses to grow international sales and diversify into Europe and beyond. The LEOs are the first-stop-shop on hand to help entrepreneurs and small business owners embark on this journey.” 

Fiona Deegan, Acting Head of Enterprise of the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny said that Local Enterprise Week was the ideal ‘shop window’ to show the wide range of supports on offer to start-ups, sole traders and small businesses in County Kilkenny. She said: “Local Enterprise Week, which takes place from March 5th to 10th, is collaboration on a local and national scale between LEOs, local business communities, Government Departments, other units within Local Authorities, and State support agencies. We hope these events will inspire and motivate hundreds of entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs in County Kilkenny.  Small businesses continue to be the backbone of our local economy, with huge potential to grow and create jobs.”

Details for all events can be found by clicking hereand Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny is strongly advising businesses to book well in advance via our online booking system

At the national launch in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on Kildare Street in Dublin, the Minister met with successful entrepreneurs, including Jeanne Mahony of Hope Beer in Fingal, Diarmuid Byrne of EquiRatings in Carlow, Lisa Johnston of Cillian Johnston Cabinet Makers in Wicklow, and Ian Dunne of Dunne Eco in Offaly. All four have benefitted from training, mentoring and financial assistance from their LEO. The Minister was joined at the launch by Greg Swift, representing the LEOs; Paul Reid, representing the County and City Management Association (CCMA) Economic, Enterprise, Community and Culture Committee; and Mark Christal of Enterprise Ireland.