Starting a business is a viable career option in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and

 Local Enterprise Week offers valuable help and advice for new entrepreneurs

New start-ups and growing SME’s will have access to the cream of Irish and international business experience at the 30 events planned across Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown’s Local Enterprise Week from 7th-11th March.

Southside Partnership are running a series of daily workshops throughout Local Enterprise Week, from 10am – 1pm. These workshops, aimed specifically at people who are unemployed and want to know more about starting a business, will explore the following topics: Business Idea Generation; Introduction to self-employment; Introduction to marketing; Introduction to pricing; and Introduction to taxation. They will equip any aspiring business owner with valuable skills.

Loughlinstown Training Centre are also including a ‘start your own business’ taster module as part of their development programme which explores self-employment as a career option. The Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Local Enterprise Office are running a free business information session on Thursday morning 10th March in Nutgrove Enterprise Centre.

Urging those potential entrepreneurs to take part in the Local Enterprise Week, Ms Dearbhla Lawson, Director of Economic, Community and Cultural Development, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, said that “being unemployed should not be a stumbling block for anybody who has a good, viable idea for a new business”.

“We’re encouraging anyone who is currently unemployed and has a business idea, to consider starting a business as a career option. Enterprise Week offers anybody, irrespective of their employment status, access to the highest quality advice, coaching and information from leading business people in Ireland. This is matched with the Local Enterprise Office’s range of programmes and funding opportunities to help the entrepreneur turn that idea into a viable business,” she said.

The Cathaoirleach, Cllr Barry Saul, said the events organised for Local Enterprise Week are responding to business surveys carried out for the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2016-2021.

“The business community asked for more opportunities to engage with stakeholders and to develop the county as a hub for small enterprises.  Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown County Council is committed to creating an ‘enterprise-friendly’ county for companies and individuals setting up or expanding their businesses and ultimately supporting the creation of more local jobs.”

The Local Enterprise Office has already supported hundreds of new enterprises. Local Enterprise Week March 7th-11th will showcase the wide range of supports available to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown’s small business community, from grants to mentoring and from training to business advice. Don’t miss it. https://www.localenterprise.ie/DLR/