McDaniel highlights vital support of Local Enterprise Office

The Local Enterprise Office in Westmeath has supported companies in the creation of 208 jobs in last year.

The results were announced by Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Neale Richmond, T.D. The net jobs created by Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Westmeath supported clients in 2023 was 145, which takes into account companies that amalgamated, ceased trading and those that transferred on to Enterprise Ireland.

The new figures show that the LEO Westmeath financially supported 270 small businesses in their portfolio across the county these companies in turn employ 1,600 people.

Cllr. Liam McDaniel, Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, said the support provided by the office to small businesses is crucial.

“The Local Enterprise Office plays a major role in local authority efforts towards supporting and sustaining enterprise and economic development in Westmeath. The supports and advice LEOs offer make a real difference to the businesses that avail of them. LEOs have put in huge efforts to help businesses to adapt to the challenges of the current operating environment. The LEO’s provide invaluable assistance to small businesses,” he remarked.

The LEOs also provide substantial funded supports to thousands of other small businesses across the country with programmes such as the Trading Online Voucher, Lean for Business and Green for Business along with training and mentoring.

The total national figures for the Local Enterprise Offices across the country were announced with the LEOs now financially supporting 38,726 jobs across 7,167 companies. This is the most jobs the Local Enterprise Offices have supported nationally since their inception in 2014.

In 2023 there were 6,640 new jobs created by LEO clients companies with a net jobs creation figure of 2,131. This was up 6% nationally on 2022. From the jobs created, 82% were outside of the Dublin region.

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