Celebrating the achievements of women in business

This Thursday, October 17, marks National Women’s Enterprise Day, Ireland’s largest female enterprise event.

It is a day to recognise, celebrate and champion females in Ireland who are leading the way in the fields of business and entrepreneurship, as well as encouraging inspiring female entrepreneurs to achieve their goals.

National Women’s Enterprise Day promotes, encourages and stimulates female entrepreneurship across Ireland, whether one is just starting out on their path in business or one has years of experience.

It is a day designed and led by women and is an annual high point in promoting entrepreneurship to women in Ireland. The Local Enterprise Office (LEO), along with Enterprise Ireland, provides a wide range of help, incentives, training and development programmes to female entrepreneurs.

While help is available on a year-round basis, National Women’s Enterprise Day turns the spotlight on female entrepreneurship, attracting widespread local, regional and national media attention, as well as generating a buzz among the female entrepreneur community and in online spaces such as social media. On National Women’s Enterprise Day, the focus is totally on female entrepreneurship across Ireland.

This opens up the prospect of entrepreneurship to women who may not have considered it before.

It lets the ladder down for others to climb into this space, to allow those who have their own idea, whether that is a grand plan or just a smidge of a plan, to become more aware of just how much help is out there.

The day highlights the support that is available, both online and in local LEO and Enterprise Ireland offices. The day also provides valuable, priceless networking opportunities and connections with industry experts.

By bringing together a diverse group of talented businesswomen on National Women’s Enterprise Day, future leaders will be inspired, economic growth will be supported and all types of innovation will be supported across Ireland.

Moreover, this is a day that celebrates the achievements of women in enterprise.

One of the most important aspects of National Women’s Enterprise Day is that it does not shy away from discussing and tackling the real-life subjects affecting women in business. While the fundamental elements such as finance, marketing, innovation and the development of a product or service are important, there are day-to-day elements of life that need to be factored in as well.

Family, well-being, mental health and physical health are all part of the experience of entrepreneurship and all have their place in National Women’s Enterprise Day. The programme and the pace create to combine a heady mix of education, motivation, and inspiration.

LEO Mayo, Galway and Roscommon are coming together for an event on October 17 at the Hardiman Hotel in Galway City with keynote speaker Sile Seoige and other guests, including Mayo ambassador Ella Szczerbak, Director of the Mood Designs Ceramics.

It is just one of many exciting events taking place around the country on National Women’s Enterprise Day. For more information on events, visit www.localenterprise.ie.