Fourteen events announced for Mayo’s Local Enterprise Week

SMALL businesses and budding entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to sample 14 events aimed at helping them to start or grow their business as part of this year’s Local Enterprise Week in Mayo.

The initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, takes place from March 3 to 7 across the country.

There are hundreds of events taking place nationally during the week, including plenty of events in Mayo - open to all. These events will encourage start-up businesses, as well as highlight innovation and discuss the latest from AI.

A flavour of Local Enterprise Week events includes Niamh Ryan, CEO and co-founder of Ella and Jo Cosmetics, hosting an event to mark International Women’s Day, Irish exporters holding an online seminar on preparing your business for customs, local one-to-one clinics for businesses in Claremorris, Ballina and Westport, and the finals of the Mayo Student Enterprise Programme, where young business owners will compete to go forward to the national finals.

Each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices will be running a full programme of events in their area that will tackle a variety of areas relevant to small businesses and starting up. The events are open to all, from budding entrepreneurs to established businesses, and gives them the opportunity to get expert advice on key areas of business from financial skills, raising funds, exporting and boosting your business online to future trends such as sustainability and digitalization.

John Magee, head of enterprise, Mayo County Council, said: “Local Enterprise Week is an opportunity for Mayo businesses to take stock of where you are, see where you can grow, where you can innovate or maybe become more sustainable and see what resources are available on your doorstep. There is something for everyone and those who maybe always had that ambition to start on their own, or a great idea, this is the week to see how to get started and make it happen.

“There are hundreds of events taking place all over the country covering everything from exporting and digital to going green or finally turning that idea into a business. We also have two National Spotlight events taking place online and open to everyone that include experts from a range of industries. So online or on your doorstep, I would encourage everyone to check out the schedule of events and get involved.”

The Local Enterprise Offices are located in the local authorities and funded through Enterprise Ireland. They support thousands of small Irish businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide. They are a local resource for entrepreneurs and small businesses, providing a range of supports including financial, mentoring, training and sector specific expertise to help guide businesses at any stage of their development.

They also run key initiatives to foster entrepreneurship across the country, including Local Enterprise Week, National Women’s Enterprise Day, the Student Enterprise Programme and the National Enterprise Awards.

The Local Enterprise Offices are also running a campaign encouraging small businesses to save time money and energy by availing of their competitiveness and productivity supports including Green, Lean and Digital for Business.

For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices go to https://www.localenterprise.ie/.

Details for all the events taking place across the country during Local Enterprise Week, from March 3 to 7, are available at www.LocalEnterprise.ie/Week.