Donegal Local Enterprise Office is open for business
New Office will provide improved services to start-ups and small businesses across the county
Start-ups create two-thirds of all new jobs across the economy
2nd May 2014
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation today [Thursday] officially launched the Donegal Local Enterprise Office (LEO).
The Donegal LEO is part of a network of 31 LEOs which will deliver an improved system of local enterprise supports to start-ups and small businesses across the country – with more staff, more funding, and more services being provided.
Today’s announcement means that from today, people thinking of starting or expanding a business in every part of Donegal will be able to access the full range of State supports provided by different Government bodies – for example Donegal County Council, Enterprise Ireland, Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, the Credit Review Office, training bodies – in one easily accessible location within the local authority.
The establishment of the LEOs will mean that all categories of business – including sole traders, micro businesses and small and medium sized companies – will have access to Government supports and advice. Previously some businesses – for example, companies who were too large to access CEB supports, but were not exporting and therefore did not qualify for Enterprise Ireland supports – fell through the cracks between different agencies.
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD said:
“The Donegal Local Enterprise Office will deliver more services and better services to the start-ups and small businesses across the county that we rely on to create the jobs we need – with more staff and more funding.
Today is a good day for business in Donegal”.
“A key part of our Action Plan for Jobs is supporting job-creation across every region of the country. Donegal was hit hard by the collapse in employment across the country between 2008-2010, with more than 10,000 people joining the live register. Across the Border region more than 30,000 jobs were lost. It is encouraging that over the past three years we have seen real progress in Donegal, with 2,000 people leaving the live register and for example 500 additional people working in IDA companies in the county. Across the border region more than 14,000 jobs have been added over the past year. However we must do more to make the recovery local, and that is why were are making changes like – establishing the Donegal LEO, building advance IDA facilities in Letterkenny and a new competition to find the best young entrepreneur in Donegal.”
“I am convinced that with the right support by Government, we can build on the progress we have made and help create the jobs we need in Donegal”.
For further information contact:
Press Office, DJEI, Tel: 01 631 2200, email: [email protected]
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Key points:
· 31 offices focused on local enterprise development
· The LEO combines the expertise of EnterpriseIreland with the broad
reach of Local Authorities
· 170 dedicated staff across the LEOs system, supplemented by a new
Graduate Recruitment Programme to take place shortly and supported by
a further 40 Local Authority staff
· www.localenterprise.ie is the new client-focused website providing
information about all national and local supports and events for
local business
· Single point of access to ALL local and national enterprise supports
and services
· All small businesses supported or advised, both exporting and
domestically trading – under the previous system some business fell
through the cracks between different agencies
· As businesses grow and develop, seamless progression through the
ranks of supports from EnterpriseIreland
· Customer Charter and staff training by EnterpriseIreland
· Increased budget allocation of €3.5m (20%) in 2014
· New Youth Entrepreneurship Competition
· Access to Microfinance and Loan Guarantee schemes
· Network supported and managed by National Centre of Excellence in
EnterpriseIreland
· Service delivery protocols in place between LEOs and key Government
bodies to ensure business-people can access all relevant services
from LEOs – Revenue, Dept of Social Protection, Education and
Training Boards, Skillnets, Microfinance Ireland, Credit Review
Office
· LEOs will each develop a local enterprise plan putting micro and
small business at the heart of job-creation locally
· EnterpriseIreland has established a new Centre of Excellence for
small business supports, to develop international best practice in
this area and roll it out in LEOs across the country
· Each LEO, embedded in a local authority, will develop a local plan
for boosting enterprise, with targets including new business
start-ups, business expansions and jobs created or sustained as well
as wider economic impacts such as exports, mentoring, training and
enterprise promotion. This represents a fundamental reform of local
government so that services are delivered and decisions made closer
to the people
· New training programmes for all staff in customer support, and a new
customer service charter which will include targets for levels of
service delivery.
What supports and services do LEOs provide?
· We provide direct financial supports to micro businesses. Micro
Enterprises are businesses with 10 or less employees.
· We advise on a range of alternative funding options available.
· We offer business information, advisory services and enterprise
support.
· We deliver high-quality training to meet the needs of your business
including; Start Your Own Business, Managing Your Business e.g.
Marketing, Sales, Financial Management, Strategy and Business
Planning.
· We mentor you and your business with experienced experts.
· We guide you to the services most relevant to support the growth and
development of your business.
· We give you advice on local authority regulations, planning,
accessibility, environment, procurement, and other issues affecting
your business.
· We connect you with appropriate State resources for your business,
including relevant agencies, such as:
· Department of Social Protection: Enterprise Supports
· Microfinance Ireland: Business Loans
· Revenue: Seed Capital Schemes
· Education and Training Boards: Business Courses
· Skillnets’ Training: Networks and Courses
· Credit Review Office: when your bank has refused credit
· We create progression pathways for high-potential companies to
EnterpriseIreland.
· We advise on local property solutions for start-ups and business
expansions.
· We organise key enterprise events.
· We facilitate effective business networking.
· We promote entrepreneurship education in the local community.
· Our website www.localenterprise.ie gives you access to online
information about our supports and services.
Who Can We Help?
· Anyone with a business idea or who already has an established
business that is looking for information, advice, referral to other
supports, guidance on ‘how to start your own business’ – or maybe
needs training, mentoring or financial assistance.
· With a customer charter, dedicated training new web materials and
service protocols with other agencies, we will be the first stop shop
for anyone with a business idea.
· The Local Enterprise Office is for anybody interested in starting up
a new business, or already in business, including; first time or
young entrepreneurs, early stage promoters, start-ups and micro and
small businesses looking to expand.
· The Local Enterprise Office will encourage people to think positively
about starting and growing a business locally, in particular
motivating young people locally to start their own business.
What’s on Offer?
· Our Mission is to promote entrepreneurship, foster business start-ups
and develop existing micro and small businesses to drive job creation
and to provide accessible high quality supports for your business
ideas.
· Small businesses face a host of barriers to success, including: not
knowing where to find information and resources; weak management,
access to finance or lack of marketing and business planning skills.
Helping to overcome these challenges are among the many ways that
Local Enterprise Offices will serve the practical needs of people in
business.
· We will provide strategic, administrative, technical and financial
support and services to start, grow and develop micro and small
business in each local area.
· With 31 dedicated teams across the Local Authority network in
Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices offer a wide range of experience,
skills and services to turn your business idea into a business.
· Through its information and advice service, including its new
website, the Local Enterprise Office will connect people to all the
appropriate information available in the State that they need to
start grow and succeed in business.
· We will continue to provide grants to those with the potential to
export
· The Local Enterprise Offices have access to the full range of
expertise in EnterpriseIreland with the establishment of a new
Centre of Excellence to guarantee ‘best practice’ service and staff
training nationally.
· We can provide access to the specialist expertise in Enterprise
Ireland for businesses in a particular sector, or with innovation and
export potential.
· We will provide access to the full range of financial supports
available to business in the State including direct referral to the
Microfinance Ireland loan scheme for businesses that have been turned
down by the banks.
· As well as advice and direct supports, the Local Enterprise Office
will promote a pro-enterprise culture locally, by organising
enterprise events, supporting local business networks and working
with local Chambers and other organisations, schools etc.
· We will be to the forefront in promoting entrepreneurship through the
schools as well as through the National Enterprise Awards
· We will help existing businesses tap in to their potential to expand
their business through mentoring, training, advice, information and
where eligible, direct financial aid.
ENDS
Press Office
Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
23 Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Tel: 01 631 2200/Fax: 01 631 2828
Email: [email protected]
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