Figures show Cork LEO’s created hundreds of new jobs during 2017

NEW figures have shown companies across Cork County created more than 250 new jobs during 2017 with the help of Cork County Council’s Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs).

The figures, released to mark the launch of Local Enterprise Week, which will run from March 5-9, have shown just how influential the two Cork LEO office have been in helping to promote local enterprise and boosts job creation.

They showed that in addition to the 258 new jobs the Cork North & West and South LEO offices granted a combined total of €1.9 million in financial supports for Cork-based manufacturing and micro-enterprises during the year.

Throughout 2017 the Cork County LEOs provided training to some 2,320 people through more than 150 business training initiatives covering a variety of topics including starting your own business, management development, women in business and social media.

In addition almost 750 entrepreneurs participated in the LEO mentoring programme, drawing from the experience and knowledge of professional business owners from a variety of backgrounds.

Not forgetting the next generation of entrepreneurs, the offices also engaged with 4,100 transition year students from 39 Cork schools under their School’s Enterprise programme.

The head of enterprise with the Mallow-based Cork North & West LEO, Kevin Curran, said they hope to maintain that momentum in 2018, commencing with a raft of events set to take place under the umbrella of Enterprise Week.

“As the figures show, LEOs aided hundreds of Cork business in 2017 and out aim is to improve on this during the course of 2018. With so many innovative new businesses in our midst, we are confident that this year will see a further upturn in demand for our supports,” said Mr Curran.

“Day to day we deal with a broad range of businesses from food to craft, technology and retail and I believe we have something for everyone in our Enterprise Week programme,” he added.

The week-long schedule of events will incorporate conferences, workshops, seminars, networking events and business advice clinics.

Highlights in Cork will include a Women in Business event on March 8 (International Women’s Day) with speakers including author and communications expert Terry Prone, A ‘ Taste of Cork’ seminar for budding food entrepreneurs, a design led thinking seminar and a business finance seminar.

The head of enterprise with the Cork South LEO, Sean O’Sullivan, said Cork was “on the up” and they were proud to be in a position to support entrepreneurs who are “committed to creating jobs and growing their businesses”.

“Local Enterprise Week is a great opportunity for Cork businesses to discover the range of supports the LEOs have to offer and we look forward to welcoming more than 2,000 people to our events,” he said.

For more about Enterprise Week events, many of which are free of charge, and to book places follow the regional links at www.localenterprise.ie.