Female entrepreneurs from across Cork and Kerry took part in Ireland’s largest National Women’s Enterprise Day on Thursday, October 18 when they attended their local event at the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs in Tivoli, Cork City.
An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), and now in its 12th year, over 1,400 female entrepreneurs attended National Women’s Enterprise Day events across the country.
At the Cork City event – hosted by LEOs Cork City, South Cork, Cork North & West and Kerry – over 150 local entrepreneurs were in attendance to hear the thoughts of Rachel Sarah Murphy, Eleanor McEvoy and panel speakers representing each Local Enterprise Office – Sharon McDermott, Ky Ky Kids, Michelle Keane, Mibeau Interiors, Estelle Power, Irish Door Systems and Regional Ambassador Joan Walsh, of Partnership International.
The National Women’s Enterprise Day initiative is led by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide, and funded by the Government of Ireland, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and local authorities.
The Cork/Kerry event will also receive funding from the Enterprise Europe Network.
The theme of this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day was ‘From Local To Global’, aiming to highlight the success stories of female entrepreneurs who have taken their local ideas and turned them into global success stories with the hope of inspiring more women to do the same.
In 2017, the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) played a key role in supporting female entrepreneurs at all stages of their business journey.
Over 18,500 female entrepreneurs took part in LEO-led training, mentoring and networking programmes, while the Local Enterprise Offices provided direct funding to 280 female-led businesses in 2017.
RIGHT SUPPORT
Adrienne Rogers, Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Cork City said: “National Women’s Enterprise Day is a key milestone for Local Enterprise Offices around the country. Since it started twelve years ago, the popularity of NWED has grown and every year we have more female success stories in business to highlight. The events are as important as ever, as they connect female entrepreneurs and give them the opportunity to learn from each other and share business challenges and solutions.
“For any female entrepreneurs in business or starting one up, our advice is to come and talk to the team at the Local Enterprise Office and we will quickly put you on a path to the right enterprise supports. Just start conversation with your Local Enterprise office and we can guide you from there.”
