'So proud to be part of a community' - Laois Chamber Alliance CEO reaching out

The CEO of Laois Chamber Alliance has been praised for shifting its image from stiff “black tie” dinners to a welcoming friendly service to unite all Laois businesses from new to established.

Portlaoise native Jackie Carroll, appointed to her role a year ago, visited Laois County Council's January meeting to outline how she has given a shake-up to Laois Chamber Alliance, with 400 network events held last year.

“We have changed the focus of what a chamber is, so people understand we are there to support them. Being part of the council is an active participant role. We put on events and invite you along.

“We are not your typical chamber. We amalgamated with Laois Tourism in 2023 and now we sell Laois to Laois people first, and then people outside the county. We tell them about places to go, things to do. 

A recent networking event was held in Portlaoise. 

“We have a lot of community groups in the chamber, as well as Laois Domestic Abuse Service, Laois Partnership, and some festivals.

“Being in business can be very lonely, especially if you are small, so we are about getting people in a room to chat. We hold four events a month, from breakfast briefings to talk and tours of businesses because everybody is nosy,” she said.

Laois Chamber Alliance members visiting CJ Sheerans business.

One recent event was a tour of CJ Sheerans in Mountrath, a leading Irish maker of timber products.

“I never knew pallet making could be so interesting. They are zero waste. We had a tour in Midland Steel too. I knew nothing beforehand about rebars but they are another Laois business at the forefront of steel fabrication industry. The average age of a steel fabricator is 57. It's a dirty job, people don't want to do it any more,” she noted.

She sees social events as very important for Laois Chamber Alliance members.

“While it's great to learn about things like sickpay and pensions, our member Mark Martley proposed social events and now we meet regularly for a few drinks and chat in a casual environment,” the CEO said.

She even organises speed dating business events.

“So for example hotels don't know all the Laois providers out there, ie bakers, painters. A hotel wants us to now source artists. Events like this are invaluable for small producers,” Ms Carroll said.

The chamber will hold annual business awards on May 9 in the Heritage Hotel, and a golf classic in May too.

“The awards are a great way to celebrate Laois businesses.

“We are not a business support unit like Laois LEO, who looks after funding and supports, but we try our best to keep up to date. Our door is always open, we are at the back of Allbooks in Lyster Square. If anyone wants to set up in business, they can come in to talk to us,” she said.

Jackie Carroll with the crew of Penhouse Design from Laois at the National Ploughing Championships. 

One such chat resulted in a new tenant taking over the vacant café in the Dunamaise Arts Centre she said.

“They walked into our door looking for a space so we introduced them. I can happily say they opened on January 7, and are doing amazing business, stocking Laois suppliers like Seccoto Coffee in Portarlington, Merry Mill oats, O'Mimo's hot sauces, it's a local level of collaboration and I'm glad to say we are bit of that,” Jackie Carroll said.

The chamber also helps non Irish Laois residents to find work and learn English. It had a hand too in founding the SICAP funded garden allotments in O'Moore Place, with the CEO noting her pride in its success in the community where she herself grew up, next door in Lakeglen.

"I met my dad's friend who was incarcerated when I was growing up, and he gave me a great hug and showed me the unbelieveable good work SICAP has done in the allotments, feeding families, growing vegetables, and how his wife grows cut flowers. I was never so proud to be part of a community as I was that day," Ms Carroll said.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley noted that Ms Carroll grew up as her own neighbour.

“Your family must be proud, it's great that you are taking the chamber down this road. I had a small business and felt isolated and felt the chamber community wasn't really for me. It's great you are taking it on a different path to open it up,” she said.

Laois County Council CEO Michael Rainey praised her.

“Your energy and ambition is very welcome. We share those economic goals, if there is a strong business community that is attractive for more business to come into the area,” the CEO said.

Cllr Paddy Buggy who is manager of the MDA centre in Mountmellick, told her she was “a breath of fresh air”.

“I had thought of the chamber as black tie events but you have brought it down to quality of life. In the MDA we have a commercial kitchen and you are very good at bringing people to us. We need people like you because people don't realise it's there,” Cllr Buggy said.

Laois Chamber Alliance will have an open day in BloomHQ, Mountrath on February 28 from 9am, with a welcome to local businesses.