This year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day has been launched. The initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) aimed at inspiring and supporting female entrepreneurs and women in business will take place across the country on Thursday, 16th October.
Last year saw a record-breaking number of attendees sign up for the day with 2,200 taking part across the country. This year there will be 15 events nationwide on National Women’s Enterprise Day with some of Ireland’s best known female entrepreneurs and women in business sharing their stories of challenges and success.
Some of those involved in the events across the country this year include broadcaster and entrepreneur, Norah Casey, international human rights lawyer Joanna Frivet, author and psychologist, Dr Katriona O’Sullivan, designer Helen Steele, entrepreneur Oonagh O’Hagan, home and food influencer, Sarah Butler, Hotelier Sammie Leslie, fitness influencer, Kellie Fennell and stylist and presenter Sonya Lennon.
The launch took place at one of the event venues, Gloster House in Birr, County Offaly and featured a selection of LEO-supported female-led businesses, including sisters Hope Hayes and Angelina Sheridan of Flaunta, Emma Duffy of My Little Tooth Fairy and Nicola Lyons of Bánór.
The events will cover a wide range of topics for women at every stage of business. That might be those who have an idea they want to develop or those who have been in business for a while and want to diversify or enter new markets. There will be experts on all areas involved from funding and networking to marketing and upskilling.
Aileen McGrath, Chair of National Women’s Enterprise Day, said, “National Women’s Enterprise Day is a significant event on the enterprise calendar every year. It’s an opportunity to look back and celebrate what has been achieved by some amazing female entrepreneurs and look forward at the opportunities that lie ahead. To hear about the challenges that have been overcome and the successes achieved.
“If you look across the list of events this year all over the country there is an amazing diversity of speakers and content that appeals to people at every stage of business, whether you simply have a great idea or want to try something new in your business there is something for you.
“It’s a day of celebration and empowerment to show women in business that the supports are there both from a national level with the likes of the Local Enterprise Offices but also that there is a network of amazing female entrepreneurs and businesswomen in your area who are doing it and are there to support you. There is a reason these events sell out so fast as anyone who has attended will attest to and we’re looking forward to another fantastic National Women’s Enterprise Day on the 16th October.”
The Local Enterprise Offices also run a number of initiatives to foster entrepreneurship across the country. These include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme, the Local Enterprise Village at the Ploughing Championships and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.
Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception eleven years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 80,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice and financial supports to small businesses.
For more information on National Women’s Enterprise Day and what events are on, go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie/NWED.