Welcome to this Edition of our Update from the Carlow County Council - Local Enterprise Office.
This edition features:
- New LEO Carlow Phone Number
- Student Enterprise Award Winners
- Bloom 2015
- Advanced Social Media Course - April 2015
- Carlow 2021 – How to Have your Say ?
- Food Academy Comes to Carlow – 31st March 2015
- Local Enterprise Village @ NPA 2015 - 22nd-24th September 2015
- Financial Assistance Application Dates
- Information from Local Enterprises
The above is just a sample and a full schedule is available on www.localenterprise.ie/carlow
Our New Phone Number
We have changed our phone number. Our New Office Phone number is 059-9129783. All other numbers remain the same.
Student Enterprise Awards
Congratulations to School of Sound from Tullow Community School who won our Student Enterprise Awards and will now go forward to represent Carlow in the National Finals in April.
Bloom 2015
In association with Carlow Tourism we have an opportunity to display 6 client product/services at Bloom 2015. If you are interesting in having your product/service displayed contact kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie
for further information.
Carlow 2021 – How to have your say for future economic and community supports for County Carlow ?
County Carlow 2021 - Local Economic & Community Plan 2015-2021 is an integrated plan to guide the development of County Carlow from an Economic , Community, Cultural, Sporting and Recreation perspective for 6 years from 2015 to 2021. This plan will be used as a guide to develop services and solutions that we all can embrace from a variety of viewpoints. The plan also takes into account National Strategies in areas of Community i.e. enhancing the place we live and Economics i.e. enhancing the way we work. The Plan is guided by a group of people called the Local Community Development Committee.
Two public events are scheduled to help make a submission
Community Facilitation Event - Area 1: 24th March 2015 @ 7.00pm – Bagenalstown Family Resource Centre (Bagenalstown)
Community Facilitation Event - Area 2: 26th March 2015 @ 7.00pm - Seven Oaks Hotel (Carlow)
Full guidance on how to make a submission or to reserve a place at your public consultation events can be found here: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Carlow/Enterprise-Development/Local-Economic-and-Community-Plan-LECP-/
Food Academy – 31st March 2015
The Food Academy Start Programme is a training programme aimed at supporting and nurturing start up and developing food businesses. Bord Bia, SuperValu and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) have joined forces on this initiative to provide a food marketing programme to new and early-stage food business owners. The cost of the programme is €200
Advanced Social Media Course
Due to significant demand a further advanced Social Media Course has been organized for 23rd April 2015 & 30th April 2015 from 7pm-10pm in Enterprise House. The fee is €40.00 and is run in association with We Teach Social. For further information e-mail enterprise@carlowcoco.ie or call 059-9129783
Local Enterprise Village @ NPA – 22nd-24th September 2015
This year the Network of Local Enterprise Offices are hosting a Local Enterprise Village for companies at the National Ploughing Championships. We have 2 stands available at reduced rates for innovative companies who wish to benefit from this consumers show. The fee for the show is €300-€500 depending on the stand side. Expressions of interest by 25th March 2015 to kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie
Grant Application Dates
Our Grant Application Dates are now available on our Website. The next closing date is 13th May 2015
Web Vouchers - 2500 Euros available for Web Trade Development
Over €50,000 has been awarded to local Carlow companies who are developing their online trade. All companies with less than 10 employees could avail of a Web Voucher for up to 2500 Euros. Every Friday is closing date until further notice. For further information e-mail kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie or call 059-9130880
Enterprise House - Incubation & Development Centre
Are you developing your business in 2015 and looking for a new location? Due to the expansion of a number of companies we will shortly have space available in Enterprise House. Enterprise House is a unique location in County Carlow for your business to grow and development. Competitive Rental & Service Rates available. Training Centre's on-site. For further information e-mail kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie or call 059-9130880
Micro Finance
Do you have plans for 2015 and your financial institution can't assist with credit. Your business or business idea could avail of loan funding of up to €25000 euros from Micro Finance via the Local Enterprise Office. To arrange a business appointment e-mail kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie or call 059-9130880
External Requests
UCC Survey
UCC would appreciate a few minutes of your time to take part in a survey to help us understand the issues, barriers and supports needed to help grow small firms in Ireland. This study is support by CPA Ireland and the Hincks Centre in Cork Institute of Technology.
The key objectives are to:
* Identify the main determinants of growth in incubator supported SMEs
* Measure the impact of these determinants on job creation and financial performance
* Identify the barriers to growth
* Identify the support needs of SMEs in order to achieve their growth goals.
The online questionnaire at the following link, contains questions on the entrepreneur and the business in terms of the internal and external measures to grow your firm e.g. internationalization, mentoring, advisory boards etc.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/growthNI
Your input is appreciated as the findings of this study will be useful for enterprise support staff, and will provide empirical evidence of what determines growth in SMEs in Ireland. More importantly, for those firms that have not grown to their potential, this study will provide insight into the specific issues that are constraining growth and the specific supports that are required to overcome these
