THE LEO will also launch a six week succession programme for businesses owners looking to either sell or pass on their business in Autumn.
These projects, as well as the achievements of Clare LEO, were outlined in a presentation to several elected representatives at Clare County Council headquarters on Wednesday.
Senior Enterprise Development Officer Theresa Mulvihill Kileen also highlighted that “the LEO in collaboration with Limerick City and Council will be holding a “Global aerospace trade event”, for the Midwest in 2027, highlighting this as a key event for the creation of employment and investment in the region.
An enterprise village at the upcoming Irish Open in Doonbeg for small businesses in Clare is also planned.
The achievements of Clare’s LEO from 2021 to 2025 were also presented to those in attendance.
According to the organisation, €2.5 million in funding has been provided to 107 enterprises across the county, with a further 206 companies supported through advice and training resulting in a final figure of 4000 trained entrepreneurs now operating in the county.
Mrs. Mulvihill Kileen also mentioned some of the challenges the organisation had faced over the last four years, making reference to the effects of Covid and the large influx of Ukrainian refugees into the county.
Current projects under the remit of the county’s LEO were also showcased at the meeting, as well as the wide reaching scope of the organisation.
Mrs Mulvihill Kileen made reference to the “Great interaction in the room in terms of the supports that are available”, in relation to a meeting recently held in Scarriff on the establishment of a digi-hub for the East Clare village, similar to the one currently available in Ennistymon.
The cross-county approach of the Local Enterprise Office was further highlighted in relation to West Clare with the Development Officer further noting that “We’re now running business advice committees face to face back as far as Cross giving more of that face to face support to people who are looking to have a conversation”.
Having concluded the achievements of the LEO so far, attention turned to initiatives for the future of Clare. Mrs. Mulvihill Kileen explained that “We’re looking at developing an engineering cluster, you’ll hear more about that later in the year” and stated that “competitiveness and digitisation” were key for small businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve and trade internationally.
Members of each of Clare’s LEAs attended the meeting including cllrs Michael Shannon (FF), Tom O’Callaghan (FF), Bill Slattery (FG) and Michael Begley (IND) with cllr Pat Daly (FF) acting as chair.
Director of Service for Planning, Economic, Rural and Community Development, Jason Murphy was also in attendance for the meeting on Wednesday morning.
Concluding Wednesday’s meeting, the Miltown woman explained the LEO’s business diversification strategy through the ‘carrots to soup’ model, highlighting the transformative effect the initiatives available to business owners can have. “. Mentoring training is for everyone and I want to get that message across.
If you’re a farmer and you’re growing carrots we can give you capital grants and employment grants to turn that production facility into a working business”, she added.
