An Tánaiste announces 200 events for Local Enterprise Week

From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 

‘Making It Happen’ is the theme of Local Enterprise Week, organised by Local Enterprise Offices from March 1st to 5th

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, has launched the full programme of events for Local Enterprise Week, which is taking place online from Monday, 1 March to Friday, 5 March.

More than 200 virtual events are planned by the

Local Enterprise Offices and these include training workshops, information webinars and masterclasses with entrepreneurs and experts, designed to help Ireland’s small businesses and those looking to start a new business in 2021.

Organised by the Local Enterprise Offices and supported by Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, this year’s theme is ‘Making It Happen.’ Common topics across the week include starting a new business, resilience and recovery, the green economy, becoming ‘leaner’, exploring new markets, doing business online and the new trading relationship with the UK. For the first time, Local Enterprise Week also includes ten ‘Spotlight’ events and these are open to every business across the country.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD is officially opening Local Enterprise Week at the first Spotlight event, the Green for Micro launch on 1 March. He said:

"Local Enterprise Week will be entirely online this year, with over 200 events taking place. We’ve all had to do things a little differently because of the pandemic and I’ve no doubt that those participating will find this year’s week just as useful and interesting.

"I know many businesses have really relied on their Local Enterprise Office for advice, training and financial help during these difficult few months. Local Enterprise Offices are the point of contact for many of the government’s grants and training schemes, such as the new Green for Micro initiative, the Trading Online Voucher Scheme and the Lean programme. Local Enterprise Week is the perfect opportunity to have a look at what help is available and find what works best for your business."

Oisín Geoghegan, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices said:

"Small businesses are being severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions and many haven’t been able to trade fully since last year. That’s why initiatives like Local Enterprise Week are more important than ever as they showcase all the supports that are available to small businesses and start-ups now. As well as the ten ‘Spotlight’ events, all 31 Local Enterprise Offices are offering full programmes over the five days of Local Enterprise Week. Our advice to all businesses and to those with a business idea, is to have a look at the events taking place by visiting LocalEnterprise.ie/Week and to register early."

The ten Spotlight events taking place during Local Enterprise Week are:

‘Benefits of Green for your Business –Launching Green for Micro’ on Monday, 1 March at 9.30am (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Dublin City)

‘Spring Back & Step Forward: Building Leadership & Resilience’ on Monday, 1 March at 11am (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Donegal)

‘Building The New’ featuring start-ups and innovators on Tuesday, 2 March at 10am (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Galway)

‘Growing Lean: One Small Step or One Giant Leap, Getting Started with Lean’ on Tuesday, 2 March at 2pm (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Kildare)

‘AgriTech Revolution in Farming and Food’ on Wednesday, 3 March at 9.30am (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office South Cork)

‘Creative Connections: Enabling your B-2-B Online Opportunities’ on Wednesday, 3 March at 2pm (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Carlow)

‘Engage for Growth with David Meade’ on Thursday, 4 March at 10am (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown)

‘S.M.A.R.Tech for StartUps’ on Thursday, 4 March at 4pm (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Clare)

‘Masterclass: Health checking your business for its forward journey’ on Thursday, 4 March at 7pm (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Wexford)

‘Trading Online Voucher Information Webinar’ on Friday, 5 March at 9.30am (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Fingal)

Details for all the events taking place for Local Enterprise Week, from March 1st to 5th, are available at LocalEnterprise.ie/Week.