Women flock to enterprise event at Powerscourt
FEMALE entrepreneurs from across County Wicklow took part in Ireland’s largest National Women’s Enterprise Day last Thursday at Powerscourt House.
The day is an initiative of the local enterprise offices and is now in its 12th year.
At Powerscourt House, entrepreneurs heard the thoughts of Sarah Slazenger, Managing Director, Powerscourt Estate, who impressed and inspired the audience with her story of the various challenges encountered in the business over the years, from the devastating fire at Powerscourt House, turning Powerscourt Estate into a successful and profitable enterprise, global recognition from National Geographic for Powerscourt Gardens and plans for building a range of sustainable enterprises into future.
‘National Women’s Enterprise Day is an excellent example of partnerships. Over the last 25 years Powerscourt has been dependent on successful partnerships to take us from local to global,’ said Sarah.
Serial entrepreneur Aisling Hurley of the Business Fairy digital marketing agency also gave the enterprising audience some sound practical advice on developing, digital marketing strategies to engage with both local and global markets.
The Master of Ceremonies was Vibeke Delahunt, Acting Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Wicklow.
Afterwards the audience were invited by Sarah Slazengenger and Vibeke Delahunt, to join in a networking event over afternoon tea in the Garden View Room of Powerscourt House.
The National Women’s Enterprise Day initiative is led by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide, and funded by the Government of Ireland, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and Local Authorities, and supported by Enterprise Europe Network.
The theme of this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day was ‘From Local To Global’, aiming to highlight the success stories of female entrepreneurs who have taken their local ideas and turned them into global success stories with the hope of inspiring more women to do the same.
High profile entrepreneurs that were sharing their success stories at sixteen different National Women’s Enterprise Day events around the country included Oscar-nominated Catherine Roycroft of Cartoon Saloon, Norah Casey of Harmonia, Oonagh O’Hagan of Meaghers Pharmacy Group, Mary McKenna of Tour America, Marissa Carter of Cocoa Brown and Eleanor McEvoy of Dragons’ Den and Budget Energy.
In 2017, the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) played a key role in supporting female entrepreneurs at all stages of their business journey. Over 18,500 female entrepreneurs took part in LEO-led training, mentoring and networking programmes, while the Local Enterprise Offices provided direct funding to 280 female-led businesses in 2017. Over 14,500 female entrepreneurs have already received training or mentoring through their Local Enterprise Office this year alone.