‘Making It Happen’ is the theme of Local Enterprise Week, organised by Local Enterprise Office South Cork
An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar T.D. has launched a full programme of events for Local Enterprise Week 2021, which takes place online from Monday, March 1st to Friday, March 5th.
More than 200 virtual events are planned by the Local Enterprise Offices around the country, including training workshops, information webinars and masterclasses with entrepreneurs and experts, all designed to assist small businesses and those looking to start a new business in 2021. 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.
On March 3rd, Cork County Council’s Local Enterprise Office (LEO) will host its third annual AgriTech conference. The online AgriTech Revolution in Farming and Food event features both local and international experts in the area of development in AgriTech and FoodTech. Speakers will include Barbara Bray MBE, a Nuffield scholar and TEDx speaker, and Aidan Connolly, CEO of Cainthus and President of AgriTech Capital.
This year’s conference will focus on emerging technologies and research in the area of sustainability, and in particular how the last year has changed how we look at the food supply chain. Panellists in the area of Food Technology include Cork’s own Jack Crotty of NeighbourFood, and Conor Mulhall of The Little Milk Company. The event is free of charge for both attendees and exhibitors, visit www.localenterprise/ie/southcork to register.
An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar T.D. will officially opening Local Enterprise Week at the first Spotlight event on March 1st. 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 to find what works best for your business.
Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Mary Linehan Foley encourages local entrepreneurs to register for the event, saying:
There are over 200 virtual events taking place during Local Enterprise Week this year with ten spotlight events including Cork County Council’s LEO South Cork’s own seminar on the ‘AgriTech Revolution in Farming and Food’. Events like these provide invaluable opportunities for learning and support for our many entrepreneurs here in County Cork. I strongly encourage anyone involved in this sector or indeed any local businesses, start-ups or anyone with an entrepreneurial idea they want to explore to check out the Local Enterprise Offices’ huge range of events this week and register now. There is something for everyone.”
Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey added:
The past twelve months have been difficult for business and the agriculture sector is no different, as it continues to face major challenges including health & safety, environment and changing consumer sentiment. The Food and Agri sectors are hugely important to Cork County and the Council is proud to support SMEs and business owners operating in this area. This year’s AgriTech Revolution in Farming and Food conference is an opportunity to bring together some of the industry’s leading experts and to explore the often transformative benefits of technology to positively impact future farming practices and the wider industry. Local Enterprise Week will provide practical support and advice for our business community and an opportunity to plan ahead with a stronger foundation.
Sean O’Sullivan with Local Enterprise Office, South Cork said:
“Small businesses throughout Cork 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, we are offering a full programme of events over the five days of Local Enterprise Week. Our advice to all local businesses and to those with a business idea, is to have a look at the events taking place by visiting LocalEnterprise.ie/SouthCork and to book early.”
Details for events taking place for Local Enterprise Week, from March 1st to 5th, are available at www.LocalEnterprise.ie/SouthCork. Local Enterprise Week is an annual initiative from the Local Enterprise Offices and supported by Enterprise Ireland, Local Authorities and the Government of Ireland.
Notes
Over 200 virtual events are taking place from March 1st to 5th, including ten ‘Spotlight’ events:
- ‘Benefits of Green for your Business – Launching Green for Micro’ on Monday, March 1st at 9.30am (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Dublin City).
- ‘SpringBack & Step Forward: Building Leadership & Resilience’ on Monday, March 1st 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, March 2nd 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, March 2nd at 2pm (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Kildare).
- ‘AgriTech Revolution in Farming and Food’ on Wednesday, March 3rd 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, March 3rd at 2pm (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Carlow)
- ‘Engage for Growth with David Meade’ on Thursday, March 4th 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, March 4th 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, March 4th at 7pm (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Wexford).
- ‘Trading Online Voucher Information Webinar’ on Friday, March 5th at 9.30am (open to all businesses across the country and organised by Local Enterprise Office Fingal).
Additional details on the spotlight events are available at https://www.localenterprise.ie/Week/LEW-2021/10-sPOTLIGHT-EVENTS/SPOTLIGHT-Event-Schedule-pdf.pdf
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