Kildare LEO celebrates 10 years
Local Enterprise Office Kildare L-R(back): John McDermott, Helen Mullhall, David Callinan, Phyllis Donohoe, Chris Fogarty, Andrew Gaynor, Lauren O’Reilly, Liz Carey, David Ennis and Director of Service Alan Dunney. L-R(Front): CE Kildare County Council Sonya Kavanagh, Claire Dunleavy, Blaise Brosnan, and Head of Enterprise, Tourism and Economic Development Jacqui McNabb Photo - Aishling Conway
On December 10, Kildare County Council’s Local Enterprise Office (LEO) celebrated its 10th anniversary with the ‘Dare to Lead’ event, which was held at the Osprey Hotel in Naas.
The event brought entrepreneurs from across Kildare, alongside key stakeholders, to reflect on the past decade of entrepreneurship in the region, share visionary leadership insights and foster new connections.
The event featured a keynote address from Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, who commended the significant impact of LEO Kildare on the local economy in supporting the creation of 2,107 new jobs in 2017 and was recognised as having the highest net job creation in the country in 2018, with 285 jobs created, seeing a 30% rise from 2017 numbers.
Key figures from the event highlighted LEO Kildare’s extraordinary contribution to local business development with €13.8 million made in direct financial support for 2,438 businesses since 2014, with 4,188 mentioring sessions completed that benefited over 5,700 participants, and with the 1,287 training courses that were provided to help 22,526 entrepreneurs develop their businesses.
Speaking at the event, Jacqui McNabb, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise Kildare County Council said: “Tonight marks the celebration of ten years of service to our dynamic entrepreneurial community. We look back on how the Local Enterprise Office has empowered entrepreneurs to transform their visions into successful businesses, driving economic prosperity across Kildare. We remain committed to supporting innovation, small businesses, and sustainable growth in the years ahead.”
Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council, also expressed her pride in the achievements of LEO Kildare: “The Local Enterprise Office has been a driving force behind Kildare’s local economy, helping entrepreneurs thrive and businesses grow. Their dedication to providing tailored support has had a significant impact on the success of small businesses in Kildare. I look forward to the continued success and collaboration between the Local Enterprise Office and our local business community.” Delivering the event's closing keynote, renowned leadership coach Blaise Brosnan focused on essential leadership principles that drive growth in today’s market, she said: “In today’s business environment, the ability to pivot is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity for survival and success”.
