The LookWest.ie Expo that will be held in the Alexander Hotel, Dublin on the September 18 is being held to attract people who want to relocate from the Greater Dublin Area to the Western Region (Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Roscommon and Clare ) to live, work and do business.
Last year’s event attracted more than 500 visitors, all of them interested in working and living in the West. This year there will be a strong emphasis on the benefits of starting or expanding a business to the Western Region with a seminar on the supports available and case studies of companies successfully operating in the west.
Commenting on the Dublin LookWest.ie Expo, Gillian Buckley, WDC CEO, said that since the Commission launched the LookWest.ie campaign in November 2004, it has had some 350,000 visits to the LookWest.ie website www.lookwest.ie
“We have continuously tracked those who have registered with us and we know that over 50 per cent are aged between 26 and 35; 92 per cent have Third Level qualifications, three quarters have over five years work experience, but most importantly, they want to move west. We can show this research to new and expanding companies who are thinking of moving to the Western Region, demonstrating that we have a ready, willing and able workforce for them.”
”This year we are putting a particular emphasis on enterprise and can show companies and entrepreneurs that the west is a thriving, cost effective location for business, with lower cost business space, shorter commuting times, and highly skilled, motivated staff. At the same time staff turnover is reportedly much lower in the west and the high quality of life benefits both staff and business owners.
“Infrastructure and services are improving all the time, and with new routes from airlines like Aer Arann, companies can do business on the world stage from their west of Ireland base.”
“Our partners from Galway County Council, Galway City Council, Enterprise Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Galway Rural Development, Cumas MFG and Galway City and County Enterprise Board will all be at the Expo to tell entrepreneurs how they can help anybody thinking of setting up or relocating a business in Galway city or county.”
“The WDC, the companies recruiting and the other state support agencies are looking forward to meeting people who are interested in a move West and to answering their questions about the high quality of life, jobs and business opportunities in the Western Region. The Expo, which is on Thursday next September 18 in the Alexander Hotel, Merrion Square, Dublin 2, starts at noon and goes on until 9pm to give those at work the chance to attend.
It is open to individuals and companies and of course its free.
Potential employees can meet with representatives of multinationals based in Galway such as BDO Simpson Xavier, IBM Ireland and Valeo Vision Systems, as well as other multinationals located in the West such as Abbott Ireland, Bank of America and Tiscali and they can also find out about job opportunities with indigenous Irish companies like Computer Troubleshooters Ireland.”
