Local Enterprise Office Limerick is marking ten years of ‘National Women’s Enterprise Day’ with a major event for local entrepreneurs on Wednesday, 19 October 2016.
All Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs)in local authorities in the region are joining forces to host an event in Kilkenny to highlight the stories of more female entrepreneurs, sharing their “road to success”.
Last year, the Local Enterprise Offices supported over 11,000 female entrepreneurs through training, mentoring, direct financial assistance and networking and are calling on more local entrepreneurs to access enterprise supports in 2016.
This year the Mid West region is joining forces with the South East with an impressive line-up of speakers on 19 and 20 October at the Kilkenny Court Hotel, John Street, Kilkenny.
Speakers include Miriam O’ Callaghan (after dinner speaker on 19 Oct), and Regional Ambassadors (on 20 Oct – Breakfast meeting) Hannah Wrixon, Last Minute Minders, Limerick, Rachel Doyle, Arboretum Home & Garden Heaven, Carlow, Clare Hughes, CF Pharma , Waterford, and Niamh Hogan, Holos Skincare, Carlow.
A limited number of tickets are still available for the event through www.nwed.ie and cost €35 per person which includes dinner and breakfast refreshments at the Kilkenny Court Hotel. The initiative is supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities Network.
Co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices, regional events are taking place across the country on 19 October in the Mid West, South West, West, Mid East, Midlands, Dublin and the Border region.
Bernie Moloney, Assistant Head of Enterprise with LEO Limerick said: “Thousands of female-led businesses are helped by Local Enterprise Offices every year and we are putting more of their success stories in the spotlight to encourage more women to start up their own businesses.”
“To celebrate ten years of ‘National Women’s Enterprise Day’ on October 19th, stories of many different successful entrepreneurs will be shared at seven events around the country and we’re encouraging local entrepreneurs here in the county to share their ‘road to success’ stories that day too.”
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD said: “Women have a huge amount to contribute to business in Ireland, and they must be encouraged to start innovative enterprises that are focused on exports, growth and job creation. I want more ambitious women across every region to start their entrepreneurship journey and take that first step. Female entrepreneurs are needed to further enhance our economy by creating more quality jobs in Ireland. The changes to the taxation treatment of entrepreneurs, self-employed and SMEs announced in Budget 2017 will also be welcomed by women entrepreneurs. Specifically, the extra funding announced for the Local Enterprise Offices will see their capital funding grow by 22% to €22.5m. This is in recognition of their pivotal role in supporting start-ups and job creation at local level”.
The full list of Regional Ambassadors for National Women’s Enterprise Day this year are Hannah Wrixon of Last Minute Minders in Limerick (Mid West Region), Audrey Gaffney of Audrey Gaffney Associates in Meath (Mid East Region), Aisling Hanley of Keenwah Quinoa in Galway (West Region) ,Regina Bushell of Grovelands Childcare in Westmeath (Midlands Region), Rachel Doyle of the Arboretum (South East Region), Nicola Byrne of 11890 and Cloud 90 (Dublin Region), Valerie Kingston of Glenilen Farm in Cork (South West Region) and Margaret Reilly of CTR Manufacturing in Louth (Border Region).