Local Enterprise Week launch attracts 30 firms

Over 30 local businesses got Local Enterprise Week 2025 off to a flying start at Cavan Digital Hub on Monday, March 3, at a launch event ‘Thriving in the Digital Era’ with Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr T.P. O Reilly officially opening this year’s event.

At the launch event, which also included enjoyed a workshop on the Digital Supports available to businesses, Niamh Smyth TD, Minister of State in the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, addressed the attendees and gave a great overview of her new responsibilities for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation.

She commended the work of the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) and acknowledged the presence of so many local business people who had taken time out of their busy schedules to attend the event.

Cllr T.P. O’Reilly, Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, also addressed the crowd. He recognised that local businesses are the backbone of our local community and that they create employment in every village and town across the county. The Cathaoirleach added that County Cavan has a strong entrepreneurial spirit with a dynamic range of businesses covering a broad range of sectors.

The attendees enjoyed a presentation from John O’Shanahan, Lean BPI, who has over 20 years’ experience working in and with businesses in the digital sector. He outlined the rapid digital changes in the last 20 years and drew attention to how the speed of change that we are now experiencing is unprecedented and encouraged businesses with up to 50 employees to contact their Local Enterprise Office to learn more about the supports available.

John was then joined by Ruth King, CICS SILO Clean, who shared her businesses journey and how they have saved time and money by embracing digital processes within the business, including engaging with the Local Enterprise Office’s Digital for Business programme.

The event kicked off a series of informative and engaging events throughout the week, with a highlight being the ‘Sustainability Supports and their Benefits to Your Business’ event, which took place at Farnham Estate Hotel and Golf Resort on Wednesday, March 5.

Guest speaker Stephen Tripp, Tripp Consult gave a very informative address on dealing with companies through the Green for Business programme as well as explaining the benefits companies who have embraced climate action and are able to showcase their work in this area.

Local entrepreneurs Thomas Argue of Argue Meats, Cootehill and Raymond Duffy, Duffy’s Costcutter, Shercock, spoke about their experience of dealing with the LEO on their 'Green for Business' and 'Energy Efficiency Grant' supports, expressing their gratitude to the Local Enterprise Office for the support they had received.

Aisling Vaughan, branch manager, AIB Cavan, also spoke about the lending supports available to companies who are looking to improve on their sustainability plans; while Cllr Winston Bennett, chair of the Economic & Enterprise and Planning SPC, also spoke about the different forms of grant support available to help with that through both the LEO and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

To find out more about the supports available through your Local Enterprise Office, email localenterprise@cavancoco.ie or call 049-4377200.