2.3 ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORT SERVICES OBJECTIVE 1: Promote a Best Practice Enterprise Culture Act as the catalyst and advocate for the establishment of a best practice enterprise culture among start-ups, micro and small businesses; also promoting enterprise and self-employment as a viable career option among the wider population.
2017 – 2020 IMPLEMENTATION
2021-2024 PLAN
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As an established home to tech giants like Intel and Hewlett Packard, Kildare is central to Ireland’s vibrant start-up scene. LEO Kildare will instigate several collaborative new ventures that will provide crucial early-stage support to innovative start-ups in the county. We will • Develop an integrated local and pro-active enterprise support ecosystem at local and regional levels with active and committed key stakeholders such as Enterprise Ireland and education partners • Continue Progression pathway for high potential start-ups and high growth companies to Enterprise Ireland including access to Business Angels, New Frontiers Programme etc. outlined in section 3.2 • Increase the number of start-up businesses in the County and their survival rate by encouraging participation in Start Your Own Business courses and by providing a suite of follow up supports such as Business Advice, Mentoring, and the Trading Online Voucher Scheme • Continue Progression pathway for high potential start-ups and high growth companies to Enterprise Ireland including access to Business Angels, New Frontiers Programme etc. outlined in section 3.2 • Maximise collaboration with the Equine Innovation Hub, MERITs, the Food, Beverage and Innovation Hub and Greentech Innovation Centre to assist start-ups to grow and develop.
LEO Kildare provided 38 Start Your Own Business programs to 527 individuals who obtained and developed the necessary skills and knowledge to assess the marketing and financial viability of their business idea/ project. 137 Established business were financially assisted to the value of 1.9 million over the life time of the previous plan • We continued our strong relationship with Maynooth University and 21 second level schools and over 6000 students were supported through student entrepreneurship initiatives including: • National Student Enterprise Programme • IBYE programme • EDEN leading to Enterprise Ireland’s Student Enterprise Awards 3rd Level. • In collaboration with Network Kildare LEO Kildare ran over 50 events and training programmes for 200 female entrepreneurs. • Focus on Success LEO Kildare invested time and resources in celebrating client successes, sharing winning, or even just entering, prestigious awards programme such as the National Enterprise Awards. By highlighting our client base, we provide evidence of business growth, brand building and industry leadership that others can relate to. This strategic objective paid divide as multiple LEO Kildare clients won Local, Regional and National Enterprise Awards
Kildare Food and Craft Networks The establishment of Kildare food and craft networks has allowed us to provide highly specialised training and opportunities to these clients. To cater to the changing needs of businesses trading through the Covid-19 pandemic, in June 2020, Kildare Local Enterprise Office was the first Local Enterprise Office to develop a shared local e-commerce platform designed to help small businesses make the move to online sales in quick and free-of-charge way (shopcountykildare.ie).
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