Chanelle McCoy keynote speaker at region’s event to mark National Women’s Enterprise Day.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) of Limerick, Clare and Tipperary are coming together to organise an event for aspiring female entrepreneurs and female-led businesses across the Mid West.
The event in the Lakeside Hotel, Ballina, Co. Tipperary on Thursday 12 October is taking place to mark National Women’s Enterprise Day.
It is one of 15 LEO-led events taking place across the country to encourage more women in Ireland to ‘open doors to new markets’ for their businesses.
All 31 LEOs, including Local Enterprise Office Limerick are behind the initiative and together, they jointly supported over 14,000 female entrepreneurs in 2016.
LEOs are enlisting the help of established female entrepreneurs to act as Local Ambassadors and share their success stories.
Special guests at the Ballina event include Chanelle McCoy of Chanelle Medical and the programme also includes other prestigious speakers including Catherine Duffy, General Manager at Northern Trust, Dr Orlaith Borthwick, Programme Manager, Mid-West Action Plan for Jobs, Aileen McGrath, Social Media Marketing Strategist and Celia Holman Lee, Holman Lee Agency.
The panelists include Tara Lee Byrne, Wicked Wholefoods, Stephanie Shine, Samco, Alison Banton of Brook & Shoals, Marion Murphy Cooney of Marion Murphy Cooney Designs and Margaret O’Connor of Quigley’s Bakery.
‘Open doors to new markets’ is the theme for National Women’s Enterprise Day in 2017. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) reports that 27% of early stage female entrepreneurs in Ireland expect to get more than a quarter of their revenues from overseas work.
The LEOs have a range of supports that can help businesses to realise those expectations and local events will feature female ambassadors who have already successfully availed of some of those supports.
Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald said: “‘Open doors to new markets’ is a very fitting theme for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor research shows that women in Ireland are ambitious to grow their businesses internationally and my Department, through the relevant agencies, are providing the necessary supports to help businesses explore and maximise the market opportunities available further afield.”
“I would encourage even more women to use their LEO to avail of the many supports and help them maximise the potential of their business in new markets.”
Mary Killeen Fitzgerald, Senior Enterprise Development Officer LEO Limerick said: “2017 will be the biggest National Women’s Enterprise Day yet. Through financial assistance, microfinance loans, mentoring, training and networking, the LEOs support thousands of female entrepreneurs every year and we want to celebrate their inspiring success stories across the country on October 12th.”
“Our event for local entrepreneurs in Ballina promises to be an uplifting day, with lots of advice, insights and information for female entrepreneurs and those planning to start a business. Places are limited though, so we’re advising everyone to book early.”
Tickets for National Women’s Enterprise Day events can be booked from the Local Enterprise Offices through www.nwed.ie and further details are available from @NWED on Twitter and @NWEDIreland on Facebook.
For the full conference agenda download here.