Local Enterprise Office Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown (LEO DLR) is encouraging businesswomen and aspiring entrepreneurs from the County to support National Women’s Enterprise Day on Thursday, October 22nd.

Together with the other 30 Local Enterprise Offices, LEO DLR are marking the day with a major national conference, themed ‘Creating Connections – Building Business’, with the help of female entrepreneurs to inspire more women to set up and grow their own businesses.

In addition to providing direct grant aid and soft supports to the micro enterprise and small business sector, Local Enterprise Offices have a particular and specific focus on supporting women in business by leading events such as National Women’s Enterprise Day. The aim is to inspire, motivate and support women across the country in running their own businesses, which will not only boost female entrepreneurship but will also contribute to further recovery, more jobs and long term economic growth.

Launching the countdown to National Women’s Enterprise Day locally, Eibhlin Curley, Head of Enterprise, LEO DLR said: “National Women’s Enterprise Day is an important annual initiative from the Local Enterprise Office, highlighting the supports, information and advice on offer to those thinking of starting a business or already running one. By putting the success stories of Irish female entrepreneurs in the spotlight, we’re encouraging more potential businesswomen to follow in their footsteps and we’ll support them along the way. LEO DLR’s Enterprising Women Network is a peer-to-peer business support network for female-run businesses with monthly meetings in Fitzpatrick’s Castle Hotel, Killiney. We want more women to start and develop local businesses.”

Speaking in support of the event, An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Barry Saul said:  “Women remain under-represented in the world of small business. Increasing the number of female-led start-ups is an integral part of the Action Plan for Jobs, and Local Enterprise Offices are key drivers of female entrepreneurship locally, regionally and nationally.”

Guest Speakers at National Women’s Enterprise Day 2015 include Oonagh O’Hagan, CEO, Meagher’s Pharmacy and UK-based entrepreneur, business mentor and author, Deirdre Bounds. Other successful female entrepreneurs participating in the conference’s case studies and panel discussions are: Triona MacGiolla Ri from Aro Digital Strategy (Co. Galway); Anne Cusack from Critical Healthcare (Co. Westmeath); Claire Bannon from Avokado & Co (Co. Clare) and Niamh O’ Neill from Niamh O’ Neill (fashion label) (Co. Louth).

Conference Facilitator for National Women’s Enterprise Day 2015 will be Síle Seoige with Clare Culligan facilitating a Business Networking Event on the eve of the conference, on Wednesday, October 21st.