LEO plays a key role in fostering entrepreneurship
By Maurice Garvey
BUSINESSES that went on to bigger and better things via the South Dublin Local Enterprise Office (LEO) were hailed as role models during an event last week in Russborough House, Wicklow, which celebrated five years of the national initiative.
Since LEOs were established in 2014, they have supported the creation of over 18,600 jobs nationwide with 144,830 entrepreneurs and business people trained in a range of skills.
Government ministers with local authority, LEO and enterprise at Russborough House
Up to €81.5million worth of direct financial assistance has been distributed to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Among the clients that grew with LEO South Dublin are The Irish Fairy Door Company, Absolute Nutrition, Acutrace and Uniformal.
They all received a range of financial supports including Priming Grants, Business Expansion Grants, Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters and Trading Online Vouchers.
Acutrace were successful winners of the National Enterprise Awards 2017. Uniformal won the Local Enterprise Awards 2019 and will represent Local Enterprise Office South Dublin in the National Enterprise Awards 2019.
Minister Heather Humphreys said over 36,000 people are now employed by LEO-supported companies, and an additional €5 million has been allocated to the LEOs Budget 2019.
Thomas Rooney, Head of Enterprise, LEO South Dublin, said; “The figures really do speak for themselves. LEO South Dublin has played a key role in fostering entrepreneurship in the area and is very much at the fulcrum of the local business community.
“That positioning has come through trust, expertise and the ability to help businesses over the toughest of hurdles because we have the resources to do so. Looking to the future, we are at the forefront of microenterprise and we have an opportunity to help shape policy and supports that we believe will only increase these impressive figures in the next five years and give our entrepreneurs and small businesses an even greater advantage in the market.”
