Female entrepreneurs and budding businesswomen from across the Midlands region counties - Westmeath, Laois, Longford, and Offaly are being encouraged to ‘Empower Business Together’ and register for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day after the line up for the event was announced.
The Local Enterprise Office (LEO ) initiative, now in its 17th year, will take place with events across the Country on Thursday, October 19. There are 14 events nationwide and they feature a range of successful businesswomen, up and coming female entrepreneurs and amazing speakers in areas of sustainability, innovation, networking, and marketing.
The theme of this year’s event ‘Empowering Business Together’ will embrace a range of themes and challenges that are being faced by women in business and will outline the key supports that are available from financial and consultancy to training and mentoring.
This year the LEO Westmeath, LEO Laois, LEO Longford, and LEO Offaly event is taking place in Castle Durrow Country House Hotel in Durrow, County Laois. The event ambassador is Kelly Ging, Kelly Lou Cakes and the MC for the event is Ann Marie Kelly – Communications & Marketing Executive Midlands Ireland.
There will be a cookery demonstration by Darina Allen of Ballymaloe Cookery School showcasing food from all four counties. A panel discussion will be held with opportunities to ask questions to all speakers, including guest speaker Anna May McHugh, National Ploughing Association MD. There will be the opportunity for networking after we hear from our Keynote Speaker Terry Prone who is Ireland’s most successful businesswoman, one of the founders of The Communications Clinic which she currently chairs.
“National Women’s Enterprise Day is a key event for the Local Enterprise Offices nationwide and is now in its 17th year. We have a fantastic day organised where we will celebrate female business success, share stories and there will be lots learning opportunities and fun throughout the event. I encourage all our female entrepreneurs to book their ticket and come along and benefit from the networking opportunities,” Catriona Duffy, Business Advisor with LEO Westmeath, said.
Some of those involved in events across the country include broadcaster and entrepreneur, Anna Daly, beauty businesswoman Marissa Carter, head of the Ploughing Championships, Anna May McHugh, MD of Ardmore Studios, Elaine Geraghty, entrepreneur, businesswoman and broadcaster, Norah Casey, Smooth Company founder, Aine Kennedy and National Enterprise awards winner, Noreen Hackett of Advanced Cosmetics.
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, 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 nine 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 on National Women’s Enterprise Day and what events are on, please visit www.LocalEnterprise.ie/NWED
