Women continue to make their mark
WOMEN are making their mark in every aspect of business life in County Wexford, running successful enteprises on their own terms and acting as role models for others to follow in their footsteps.
In every corner of the county, you will find amazing women showing how it is done in all areas of business from the financial, insurance and medical industries to hospitality and food production and from health and beauty to recruitment, tourism, travel, property, education and the creative arts.
From Kilanerin to Kilmore Quay, confident, entrepreneurial and skilled women are excelling in the running of their own companies or heading up large and small enterprises, showing innovation and initiative, creating new ideas and contributing to employment and economic prosperity.
There is no area in which women are not involved at ownership or management level from engineering and manufacturing to construction and science.
They are showing every day that they mean business and demonstrating leadership and ability which is of benefit to the economy and society as a whole.
County Wexford boasts many trail-blazing business women that we can all be proud of for setting standards and showing others that it can be done. They are cementing a tradition of successful women in business that makes others believe it is possible.
The National Women’s Enterprise Day (NWED) Wexford Ambassador is Mary Walsh, a woman working in a male-dominated industry as the founder and managing director of packing solutions provider Wel Pallets Ltd in Gorey.
‘For me, NWED is a way of helping to increase the numbers of women in the workplace and in decision-making roles. Any opportunity to focus on the importance of a balanced workplace, where everyone’s role and contribution is valued, benefits society as a whole,’ said Mary, a mentor on the Acorns development programme for females in rural Ireland.
Wexford women in business are striking out for entrepreneurial empowerment but they don’t have to go it alone.
Financial and mentoring supports are available through the Local Enteprise Office which recognises that networking is a key to success and runs the County Wexford Women in Business Network.
The Network is a resource for women in the county, encouraging them to develop new skills and learn best practice from the experience of others, to maximise their potential for success.
Head of Enterprise Liz Hore said there is always a high takeup by women in Wexford companies of general mentoring and training programmes run by the LEO.
The Enterprise Office has a dedicated three-week Female Entrepreneur Business Development Programme starting on March 19, aimed at females who are thinking of starting their own business or have recently started an enterprise.
It will give participants information on goal setting and motivation, how to develop a strategy for their business and sales skills.
‘There are so many success stories of women in County Wexford who continue to do amazing things across every sector of business’, said Liz.