Minister launches local programme for National Women’s Enterprise Day

Seven events taking place around the country on Wednesday, October 19th to highlight success stories and to encourage more women to access enterprise supports

Regional event taking place in Cavan for the Border Region [Cavan, Louth, Leitrim, Sligo, Monaghan and Donegal]

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D. has launched the full programme of events to mark the 10th annual National Women’s Enterprise Day, which is being organised by the Local Enterprise Offices on Wednesday, October 19th 2016.

Local Enterprise Office Cavan is organising an event in Radisson Farnham Estate in Cavan to celebrate the success stories of Irish female entrepreneurs and to encourage more women across the region to access enterprise supports for starting or growing a business.

Special guests at the regional event include Margaret Reilly of CTR Manufacturing Ltd and Grand Designs Kitchen & Bedrooms, Mairead Lavery, Editor of Irish Country Living magazine and Patricia Callan of Small Firms Association. There will also be the opportunity to hear from successful of entrepreneurs from the region.

All 31 Local Enterprise Offices are behind the initiative and they have enlisted the help of established entrepreneurs to act as Regional Ambassadors, to share their success stories at events that day.

This year’s Regional Ambassadors are Rachel Doyle of the Arboretum in Carlow and Wicklow, Nicola Byrne of 11890 and Cloud 90 in Dublin, Valerie Kingston of Glenilen Farm in Cork, Aisling Hanley of Keenwah Quinoa in Galway, Hannah Wrixon of Last Minute Minders in Limerick, Audrey Gaffney of Audrey Gaffney Associates in Meath, Regina Bushell of Grovelands Childcare in Westmeath and Margaret Reilly of CTR Manufacturing in Louth.

Launching the full programme of events, Minister Mitchell O’ Connor said: “The theme for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day on October 19th is the ‘road to success’ and I want to encourage more women across every region to start their entrepreneurship journey by developing their business idea or expanding their business. Last year, the Local Enterprise Offices in partnership with the Local Authorities provided invaluable supports including financial and mentoring to 6,250 female-run businesses while more than 11,000 female entrepreneurs participated in specialist training programmes. By highlighting the range of Government supports that are available, I want to increase the numbers of female entrepreneurs starting businesses across all regions of the country which will further enhance our economy by creating more quality jobs in Ireland. I would encourage women to contact their Local Enterprise Office to see what supports are available to them.”

Ursula Donnelly, Deputy Head of Enterprise of Local Enterprise Office, Donegal said: “Through financial assistance, microfinance loans, mentoring, training and networking, the Local Enterprise Offices in Local Authorities supported 1,000 more female-run enterprises last year, compared with 2014. There is a wide range of enterprise supports on offer and so we’re encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners to find out about those supports at the regional event on National Women’s Enterprise Day.”

Enterprise Ireland is also supporting National Women’s Enterprise Day 2016 and its CEO, Julie Sinnamon, said: “One in five high potential start-up companies supported by Enterprise Ireland is female-led — just five years ago, that figure was less than one in ten companies. We are very keen to work with women starting innovative businesses that are focused on exports, growth and job creation. Our aim is to continue to support and increase the number of new and existing female entrepreneurs with ambitions for success in international markets.”

Tickets for National Women’s Enterprise Day events can be booked from the Local Enterprise Offices through www.nwed.ie.

Tickets for the Border Region Event can be booked here.