Events to Mark Local Enterprise Week 2025
Small businesses and budding entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to sample a range of events aimed at helping them to start or grow their business as part of this year’s Local Enterprise Week. The initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, takes place from March 3-7 this year across the country.
While there are hundreds of events taking place nationally, there are plenty of events in County Cavan open to all.
These events will focus on:
- The importance of digitalization for SMEs in County Cavan and how the Local Enterprise Office can assist
- Supports available to help businesses become sustainable
- Highlighting how the new Auto-Enrolment Scheme will impact SMEs
- Celebrating International Women’s Day with the Cavan Women in Business Network
- How embracing AI tools can save businesses time and energy
A flavour of those taking part in Local Enterprise Week includes John O’Shanahan, LEAN BPI; Stephen Tripp, Tripp Consult; and a number of local business owners and managers that have availed of the supports on offer through the Local Enterprise Office.
Eoin Doyle, Chief Executive Cavan County Council stated: “Local Enterprise Week is a fantastic marker in the road for any business.
“It’s an opportunity to take stock of where you are, see where you can grow, where you can innovate or maybe become more sustainable and see what resources are available on your doorstep.
“There is something for everyone and those who maybe always had that ambition to start on their own, or a great idea, this is the week to see how to get started and make it happen,” added Mr Doyle.
Cllr T.P. O’Reilly, Cathaoirleach Cavan County Council, added:
“There are hundreds of events taking place all over the country covering everything from exporting and digital to going green or growing that idea. So online or on your doorstep, I would encourage everyone to check out the schedule of events and get involved.”
They also run key initiatives to foster entrepreneurship across the country including National Women’s Enterprise Day, the Student Enterprise Programme and the National Enterprise Awards.
The Local Enterprise Offices are also running a campaign encouraging small businesses to save time money and energy by availing of their competitiveness and productivity supports including Green, Lean and Digital for Business.
Conor Craven, Head of Enterprise, LEO Cavan: “I want to encourage local businesses to come along to some of the free events during Local Enterprise Week and engage with our office.
There are a number of programmes and supports available to businesses across all sectors which could really benefit them.”
SUPPORTS FROM YOUR LEO
Green for Business
The LEO Green for Business Programme is a free programme for businesses interested in reducing their carbon footprint and energy costs. A consultant will visit your business and develop an energy saving plan which will assist you in becoming eligible for the Energy Efficiency Grant.
Energy Efficiency Grant
The Energy Efficiency Grant is subject to 75% grant funding up to a maximum of €10,000, which can be used to upgrade or replace eligible equipment or install smart energy controls. Many Cavan businesses in the retail, hospitality, food, manufacturing and other sectors have already availed of this grant.
Digital for Business
Free to Cavan businesses, this programme provides a competitive edge in running your business and improves results. The programme will assist you in eliminating paperwork and reduce admin, replacing this with a more improved and positive digital approach which reduces time and costs. Following completion of the programme, businesses and apply for the Grow Digital Voucher. This covers grant funding up to €5,000 or 50% of eligible expenditure on new software for your business.
New Market Explorers Grant
The grant will support first time and small-scale exporters to undertake essential market research and support the development of viable and sustainable market entry strategies in new geographic markets for businesses. The Market Explorer Grant is open to small enterprises (with between 1 and 50 paid employees) that meet the following criteria:
- Operate as Manufacturing or eligible internationally traded services businesses.
- Operate commercially and are established and trading for at least 12 months, registered, and carrying on activity in County Cavan.
Contact us
For more information on these supports or to find out more about events for Local Enterprise Week, please visit our www.localenterprise.ie/Cavan or contact our office on 049-4377200 or email localenterprise@cavancoco.ie