14 EVENTS ANNOUNCED FOR LAOIS’S LOCAL ENTERPRISE WEEK 2025

Small businesses and budding entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to sample 14 events aimed at helping them to start or grow their business as part of this year’s Local Enterprise Week in Laois.

The initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, takes place from March 3-7 this year across the country.

While there are hundreds of events taking place nationally during the week, there are plenty of events in Laois open to all. The following are a few of the main events taking place, however view the schedule for the entire list of events and mentoring clinics. www.localenterprise.ie/laois

Padraic O Maille will be giving a talk ‘Achieve more for your business in 30 days!’ in the Midlands Park Hotel Portlaoise on Tuesday, March 4 after work (5.45pm – 7pm). Padraic is one of Ireland’s leading speakers and writers on business and motivational issues.

He will teach attendees how to regain control of your day, increase your sales, lower your stress,
and accomplish your goals faster than ever before. Book early as places are limited.

John O Shanahan from Lean BPI is delivering a seminar on ‘Digital Adoption in Small Businesses: Why it’s time to act faster’. John is a senior business consultant with over a decade of experience in Lean and Digitalisation.

If you have a small business and wish to explore how small businesses are successfully adopting digital tools to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences and drive growth, this is the talk for you!

John will share real world use case studies of best-in-class digital adoption and will show how LEO supports like Digital for Business and Grow Digital programmes can help you on your journey.

11.30am – 1pm Portlaoise Enterprise Centre, Clonminam Business Park,
Portlaoise. Register on our website Places limited.

An informative talk ‘Let’s Talk about Finance! Lunch and Learn event will take place in the Council Chamber in Laois County Council. If you wish to start a business or are running a small business in Laois, this talk will give information on the range of financial and other business supports available.

It will also discuss eligibility criteria and how to apply for funding. This is an opportunity to talk to representatives from LEO Laois, Laois Partnership and the Department of Social Protection. A light lunch will be provided.

Booking essential. Places Limited.

One -to-One Mentoring clinics will take place daily on topics such as Financial planning, Business advice, Digital marketing. A One to One Export Clinic will take place on Tuesday, March 4 where advice will be given on any queries in relation to export development and expansion into new markets.

Each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices will be running a full programme of events in their area that will tackle a variety of areas relevant to small businesses and starting up.

The events are open to all from budding entrepreneurs to established businesses and gives them the opportunity to get expert advice on key areas of business from financial skills, raising funds, exporting and boosting your business online to future trends such as sustainability and digitalisation.

Evelyn Reddin, Head of Enterprise said “Local Enterprise Week is a fantastic marker in the road for any business. It’s an opportunity to take stock of where you are, see where you can grow, where you can innovate or maybe become more sustainable and see what resources are available on your doorstep.

There is something for everyone and those who maybe always had that ambition to start on their own, or a great idea, this is the week to see how to get started and make it happen.

“There are hundreds of events taking place all over the country covering everything from exporting and digital to going green or growing that idea. So online or on your doorstep, I would encourage everyone to check out the schedule of events and get involved.”

The Local Enterprise Offices located in the local authorities and funded through Enterprise Ireland support thousands of small Irish businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide.

Since their establishment in 2014 they have been for the first stop shop for entrepreneurs and small businesses and providing a range of supports including financial, mentoring, training and sector specific expertise to help guide businesses at any stage of their development.

They also run key initiatives to foster entrepreneurship across the country including Local Enterprise Week, National Women’s Enterprise Day, the Student Enterprise Programme and the National Enterprise Awards.

The Local Enterprise Offices are also running a campaign encouraging small businesses to save time money and energy by availing of their competitiveness and productivity supports including Green, Lean and Digital for Business.

www.AllInADaysWork.ie

For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie

Details for all the events taking place across the country during Local Enterprise Week, from
March 3-7, are available at www.LocalEnterprise.ie/laois

www.localenterprise.ie/week