One of County Westmeath’s best small businesses will have an opportunity to exhibit their product to almost 300,000 people at the National Ploughing Championships next month as part of the Local Enterprise Village.
Klaas Kickz Ltd who are supported by Local Enterprise Office Westmeath are an innovative company selling colour coded football boots, that come with online training videos, to help children learn football through colours and become more confident.
The initiative of the local enterprise offices (LEOs ) will see over 30 small businesses from across the Country take a stand in the Local Enterprise Village in the heart of the Ploughing Championships, opening their businesses up to almost 300,000 prospective customers across the 3 days of the event.
The initiative of the local enterprise offices was launched by Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Neale Richmond T.D. and will be open as part of the Ploughing Championships taking place in Ratheniska, County Laois, from 19 to 21 September this year.
“The National Ploughing Championship is one of the biggest occasions on the Irish calendar and there are very few events that draw a crowd as large as this over 3 days. For our small businesses this is a huge opportunity to engage with thousands of prospective customers every day and this could have a significant impact on their business.
“We have been working with Athlone based Mark Connaughton of Klaas Kickz, on their marketing and merchandising for the event so they can maximise this amazing opportunity. There’s something for everyone in the Local Enterprise Village,” Christine Charlton, Head of Enterprise Westmeath, said.
Some of the clients involved this year cover areas such as kids clothing and games, agtech products, luxury bathing and skincare products, artisan food and drink producers, sustainable clothing and beauty products and range of innovative products from Ireland’s best small businesses. Year on year the Local Enterprise Village proves to be one of the most popular destinations for visitors to the Ploughing Championships.
“It is marvellous to see that so many diverse and impressive businesses will be partaking in this year’s ‘Local Enterprise Village’ at the National Ploughing Championships taking place in Ratheniska, Co Laois from September 19 to 21. This is a wonderful opportunity for these small businesses to showcase their products and wares to the large number of visitors that the Ploughing attracts,” NPA President James Sutton, added.
The Local Enterprise Village is just one of a number of initiatives that the local enterprise offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day, 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 eight years ago, the local enterprise offices have helped create over 25,000 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 see www.LocalEnterprise.ie
