Business News

15,000 Jobs Created By Local Enterprise Office-Backed Companies Since 2014

A total of 15,000 jobs were created from 2014 to now by Local Enterprise Office (LEO) supported companies with some 3,700 jobs delivered in 2017 by start-ups and small businesses from across Ireland.

There are currently 31 LEOs nationwide, run in partnership by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities, providing a ‘first stop shop’ for the supports available to entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses.

Representing the Local Enterprise Offices, Sheelagh Daly said:

“These jobs figures are a testament to the determination of local entrepreneurs who are growing their own businesses with the help of their Local Enterprise Office.  Every day, thousands of small businesses are accessing a range of supports through LEOs, such as training, mentoring, grants and microfinance loans.”

Brendan Flood, Divisional Manager, Regions and Entrepreneurship, Enterprise Ireland said:

“I strongly welcome these excellent performance figures from the Local Enterprise Offices. During 2017, more than 80 companies progressed from the LEOs into the Enterprise Ireland portfolio, to help them achieve their global ambition. Enterprise Ireland will continue to work closely with the LEOs and our Local Authority partners to achieve balanced growth throughout every region.”

The jobs results by the LEOs were welcomed by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys T.D. and the Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen T.D, as they opened the annual LEO Forum in Athlone today.

The forum highlighted the need for LEO companies to prepare for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which becomes law in May 2018.

Minster Breen said:

“There is a range of information available to assist LEO companies in complying with their GDPR obligations.  As a first step, I would encourage them to visit GDPRandyou.ie which is an excellent source of guidance provided by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. Don’t leave it until the last minute, now is the time to think about data protection measures.”

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