A range of FREE events, training, webinars and more for small business owners in Westmeath

Westmeath small businesses and entrepreneurs will gather from 6 – 10 March for Local Enterprise Week 2023, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices across the Country. With thousands expected to attend the events nationwide, and the threat of rising costs for small businesses, this will be the most significant Local Enterprise Week to date.

Run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), events will be taking place from Monday 6 March to Friday 10 March, and are open to all, particularly entrepreneurs and those with small businesses. The events will be running online and in person and will cover a whole range of topics from financial forecasting, local marketing, exporting, and more.

There will be a range of National Spotlight Events being run online each day, starting off on the morning of Monday 6 March with the “First Steps to Export Success” Webinar which is hosted by the LEO Westmeath. If you are considering expanding into international markets or if you are an early-stage exporter, the First Steps to Export Success Webinar is for you. This Webinar organised by the Local Enterprise Offices in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia will heighten awareness of market opportunities and supports available, discuss challenges to internationalisation and feature case studies drawn from both the Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland clients.

LEO Westmeath is also running a range of free training courses for Westmeath businesses throughout the week including “Financial Forecasting for Small Business” and “How to Market Your Business Locally” and will be hosting a range of clinic days on topics such as social media, finance, marketing, and HR where businesses can book a one-to-one advisory session on the topic of their choice.

The week will also include some high-profile events, such as the “Women in Business Event” to celebrate International Women’s Day on Wednesday 8 March. This is a regional event run in conjunction with the LEOs in Longford and Leitrim and will include guest speakers from various successful businesses including Westmeath’s own Una Leonard of 2210 Patisserie fame. The winners of the Westmeath Enterprise Awards 2023 will be announced at a ceremony on 7 March in the Mullingar Park Hotel and the County Final of the Students Enterprise Awards will be held in the Golden Island Shopping Centre on 9 March.

The full list of local events is available on the website https://www.localenterprise.ie/westmeath

For more information on Local Enterprise Week and how to find events in each of the 31 Local Enterprise Office areas log on to www.localenterprise.ie/week and you can join the Local Enterprise conversation on social media with #MakingItHappen.

The Local Enterprise Offices support over 7,000 small Irish businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide who employ in excess of 36,000 people. The LEOs supported the creation of 7,870 jobs in 2022 with funding to small businesses and provided a range of supports such as mentoring, training, and industry specific expert advice to assist businesses who are at any stage of their development. The Local Enterprise Offices are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland in partnership with the Local Authorities.

Christine Charlton, Head of Enterprise, LEO Westmeath emphasised what a unique opportunity this is for businesses and entrepreneurs around the Country; “The Local Enterprise Office are an essential resource for any entrepreneur or small company in Ireland and Local Enterprise Week offers everyone the opportunity to understand what the LEO offers. It is also a fantastic chance for people to learn from the array of great speakers and to network with other likeminded entrepreneurs and business people in their area. Small Irish businesses rely on the support of those in their communities, particularly in those tough first years and with the rising costs of living and doing business. Local Enterprise Week is the perfect opportunity to learn about what resources are available on your doorstep and who in your network can help your business to plan, start, and grow.”

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Content Last Updated/Reviewed: 10/02/2023