Enterprise Week 2021 offering help and advice to small local
Businesses
FOSTERING entrepreneurship and nurturing small businesses are key ingredients needed to ‘Make It Happen’ for companies across Cork’s vibrant commercial sector.
That’s the view of Kevin Curran head of enterprise with the Cork North & West Local Enterprise Office (LEO) ahead of Enterprise Week 2021, which will run from next Monday (March 1) to Friday.
Run by LEOs and supported by Enterprise Ireland and local authorities, it will see thousands of people attend hundreds of events across the country aimed at helping fledging and expanded enterprises raise their profiles.
“While we run enterprise related events every week throughout the year, Enterprise Week is an opportunity to promote the supports the LEO have available and to give clients a chance to engage in as many events as possible for their business,” said Mr Curran.
“These events are open to entrepreneurs with a business idea as well as to those already trading and in business, both sole traders and limited businesses. The business advice clinics are ideal for entrepreneurs while some of the other events are suitable for start-ups and established businesses,” he added.
In addition to local events taking place under the Enterprise Week umbrella, full details of which are available at www.localenterprise.ie/corknorthandwest this year’s programme also includes 10 national ‘Spotlight’ events covering various issues organised by individual LEOs and open to every business, regardless of geographical location.
These need to be pre-booked at https://www.localenterprise.ie/week, and availability will be limited,
This year’s schedule includes ten National ‘Spotlight’ events, which are organised by individual Local Enterprise Offices and open to every business, regardless of your business location.
You need to pre-register for these Spotlight events as there will be limited availability: https://www.localenterprise.ie/week.
Mr Curran said that Enterprise Week 2021 has taken on a new importance given the fact that the past 12-months have been “extremely challenging” for small businesses.
“Enquiries have been non-stop since the start of the pandemic. Our Trading Online Voucher Scheme has helped to fund hundreds of local businesses to trade online allowing them to sell online while their shops remain closed,” said Mr Curran.
“2021 is continuing to challenge our clients but we are here to support them as best we can with free online training, mentoring, business advice clinics, funding supports (subject to eligibility criteria) and our Brexit supports,” he added.
Mr Curran said the LEO was particularly keen to support women in business and assist “narrowing the gap between female and male entrepreneurs.”
“Annually we run a Women in Business Programme for female entrepreneurs across all sectors. We also celebrate National Women’s Day in October annually and of course International Women’s Day on March 8,” he said.
With this in mind Enterprise Week will incorporate a panel discussion on Friday, March 5 featuring some of the country’s leading female entrepreneurs including: Dr Paula Gaynor, Somega; Diane Carton, Saille Baskets and Barbara O’Sullivan SHOOZZ.Sonia Deasy, Pestle & Mortar will be interviewed and will share the challenges she faced with her award winning international business. It will also include a Q&A whereby those attending can engage and ask questions.
“The theme will be ‘Choose to Challenge’ and this is a must-attend event whether you have a business idea, are an early stage entrepreneur, a new start-up or a growing and established female led business,” said Mr Curran.