A busy Local Enterprise Week in Cavan
Over 50 business people attended the launch earlier this month.
A wide variety of events took place across the county from March 4-8 to celebrate Local Enterprise Week. As well as encouraging entrepreneurship, the events also sought to make people aware of the supports available through their Local Enterprise Office, Cavan County Council.
Over 50 business people attended the launch event ‘Small Steps, Big Impact:10 Practical Steps to Digital Innovation’ hosted on March 4 in the Hotel Kilmore.
Opening the week, Cathaoirleach Cllr Philip Brady said: “I recognise the very important role that small and medium enterprises play in terms of providing local employment and their immense contribution to Co Cavan’s economy.”
Industry expert Ann Shaw, digitalisation coach at Jigsaw Better Business, outlined how embracing new technologies and systems can transform your business.
The council’s chief executive, Eoin Doyle, praised the business acumen in the county: “Cavan has a very strong enterprise culture and Local Enterprise Week is a great opportunity to showcase the strengths of our small and medium enterprises in Co Cavan.”
The highlight every year is the Cavan County Enterprise Awards, which were hosted in Cavan Digital Hub on March 7.
Kingscourt based My Farewell Wishes won this year’s top award, as well as Best Start Up. Colwell Brothers Ltd took the Green Sustainability Award; BT Bro-tech Ltd claimed the gong for Innovation; while IO Electrical was named One to Watch. My Farewell Wishes goes forward to represent Cavan at the National Enterprise Awards in June.
Cllr John Paul Feeley, chairperson of the Economic, Enterprise and Planning Strategic Policy Committee and Brendan Jennings, Director of Service, Cavan County Council, congratulated the winners and also the LEO Team on a most successful week of events.
“Small businesses are the largest employers in County Cavan and it is important to acknowledge their achievements with these awards,” said Cllr Feeley.
Another highlight of the week was the county final of the Student Enterprise Competition (see page 45 for photos). Over 140 students and teachers from nine schools attended final in the Hotel Kilmore where students showcased their mini companies.
In the Junior category, the winners were ‘Green Hoof’, Colaiste Dun An Rí, Kingscourt; runners up were ‘Up Cycle’, Royal School Cavan; while Christmas Creations, St Bricin’s College, Belturbet took the Enterprise Award.
Intermediate Category: Winner, ‘In Awe’ from St Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff; runner-up, ‘Out of This World’, Colaiste Dun An Rí, Kingscourt; Enterprise Award: Totes & T-Shirts, St Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff.
Senior Category: Winner, ‘Resin Creations’, Virginia College; runner up, ‘Linguistic Learners’, Royal School Cavan; 3rd, ‘KCFC Lights’, St Mogue’s College, Ballyconnell; Enterprise Award, ‘ASCA Designs’, St Bricin’s College, Belturbet; special award, ‘Sage & Holly Bags’, St Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff.
A number of other special awards were conferred for Innovation, ‘AD Engineering’, St Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff; Best Digital Marketing, ‘The Jersey Hub’, St Mogue’s College, Ballyconnell; Sustainability Award, ‘The Goat Hill Co’, Breifne College, Cavan; Best Display, ‘Sweet Cheeks’, Loreto College, Cavan.
The winners of the Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories will now go on to represent Cavan at the national finals in May.
The week concluded with celebrations on International Women’s Day, March 8, when over 70 women in business enjoyed a breakfast meeting of the Cavan Women in Business Network in Cavan Digital Hub (see page 47 for photos).
LEO Cavan continue to run business training programmes throughout the year and also offer additional supports such as advice, mentoring and development programmes such as Green for Business, Lean for Business and Digital for Business. Contact 049-4377200 or email localenterprise@cavancoco.ie or log on to www.localenterprise.ie/Cavan