At the official launch of Cavan Local Enterprise Week 2023 (from left): Stuart Nelson, Jigsaw Better Business; Pat McKeown, FF Solutions; Tara Humphreys, LEO Cavan; Tommy Ryan, Chief Executive, Cavan County Council; Cathaoirleach Cavan County Council, Cllr John Paul Feeley; Francis Verling, Verling Consulting; Gillian Madden, LEO Cavan; Brendan Jennings, Director of Services, Cavan County Council and Conor Craven, Acting Head of Enterprise LEO Cavan.

Local Enterprise Week ’23

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At the official launch of Cavan Local Enterprise Week 2023 (from left): Aidan McKenna, Enterprise Ireland; Stuart Nelson, Jigsaw Better Business; Pat McKeown, FF Solutions; Tara Humphreys, LEO Cavan; Tommy Ryan, Chief Executive, Cavan County Council; Cathaoirleach Cavan County Council, Cllr John Paul Feeley; Francis Verling, Verling Consulting; Gillian Madden, LEO Cavan; Brendan Jennings, Director of Services, Cavan County Council and Conor Craven, Acting Head of Enterprise LEO Cavan. Adrian Donohoe

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Pictured during a panel discussion at the ‘Preparing your Business for a Leaner & Greener Future’ event (from left): Aidan McKenna, Enterprise Ireland; Pat McKeown, FF Solutions; Gerard McCaul, McCaul Kitchens; Stuart Nelson, Jigsaw Better Business and Gillian Madden, LEO Cavan. Adrian Donohoe

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A networking event in the Farnham Estate to mark International Women’s Day on March 8. SHEILA MARIE ROONEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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The Student Enterprise Programme County Final. Back (from left): Cllr Madeleine Argue; Conor Craven, Acting Head of Enterprise, LEO Cavan; Deputy Niamh Smyth; Cllr Winston Bennett; Cathaoirleach, Cllr John Paul Feeley; Cllr T.P. O’Reilly; Cllr Carmel Brady; Cllr Shane P. O’Reilly and Cllr Trevor Smith; front, Tara Humphreys, Business Advisor, LEO Cavan; Sweets ‘n’ Treats, St Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff; Little Miss Tea Cups, Royal School Cavan; Sweets and Treats, Colaiste Dun An Ri, Kingscourt and Brendan Jennings, Director of Services Cavan County Council. SHEILA MARIE ROONEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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The Student Enterprise Programme county final. Intermediate Category Winner: BASCAA Frames, St Bricin’s College, Belturbet; Special Award Winners: Spoon Savers, Royal School, Cavan; Sophie’s Key Wings and Things, Loretto College Cavan; Personal Planet, St Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff; Blathana Glas, Royal School Cavan; Second Chance Breifne, Breifne College, Cavan; BIJURK, St Bricin’s College, Belturbet. Winner of My Entrepreneurial Journey: Abigail Tully, Breifne College, Cavan. SHEILA MARIE ROONEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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Senior Category Winners Mara Jewellery, Loreto College, Cavan; J.O.E. Construction, St Mogue’s College, Bawnboy; Something for Everyone, Colaiste Dun An Ri, Kingscourt, invited guests and teachers. SHEILA MARIE ROONEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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The County Cavan Enterprise Awards. Back (from left): Vincent Walsh; Cllr Carmel Brady; Cllr Patricia Walsh; Cllr T.P. O’Reilly; Tara Humphreys, LEO Cavan; Chief Executive, Cavan County Council, Tommy Ryan; Conor Craven, Acting Head of Enterprise, LEO Cavan; Brendan Jennings, Director of Services, Cavan County Council; Cllr Madeleine Argue; Cllr Peter McVitty; Cllr Winston Bennett and Gillian Madden, LEO Cavan; front, Barry Crowe and Sharon Crowe, Barry John’s Sausages; Kelan O’Connell, Nualach Automation Ltd; Cathaoirleach Cavan County Council, Cllr John Paul Feeley; Evan Roarke, Nualach Automation Ltd and Paul Gilcreest, Trave Innovations. Adrian Donohoe

Published: Thu 30 Mar 2023, 1:05 PM

Local Enterprise Week 2023 (March 6-March 10) has been hailed a resounding success with a variety of events promoting enterprise and entrepreneurship taking place across County Cavan.

LEO Cavan were joined by Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr John Paul Feeley and Tommy Ryan Chief Executive Cavan County Council to officially launch the week on Monday, March 6, with an event, ‘Preparing Your Business for a Leaner Greener Future’ in the Hotel Kilmore.

Speaking at the launch, Cllr Feeley said: “Small and medium enterprise are the life blood of County Cavan’s economy... They provide invaluable employment. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for the contribution they make.”

The event was attended by over 30 business people in the county who heard from industry experts Pat McKeown, FF Solutions and Stuart Nelson, Jigsaw Better Business on how embracing the LEAN and Green for Micro programmes could benefit their business.

Gerard McCaul, McCaul Kitchens, Crosskeys and Rosie Mansfield, Premier TEFL, Youghal, Co Cork, then spoke about their own experiences and were keen to recommend the programmes.

Aiden McKenna, Enterprise Ireland and Gillian Madden, Business Advisor LEO Cavan, highlighted the wide range of supports available to businesses and entrepreneurs.

On Tuesday, March 7, LEO Cavan hosted an online course ‘How to get found on Google’. Delivered by Barry Murphy, Murphy Marketing, this session explained the importance of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and how businesses can use it to their advantage. Participants will also receive a one-to-one follow up session with the trainer.

International Women’s Day was on Wednesday, March 8, and saw 70 business women come together in the Farnham Estate for a great networking event. They were joined by Razan Ibraheem, hournalist and human rights activist; Bláithin & Maeve McCormack, The EcoShack Cavan, who shared their passion for living sustainably; and Dr Dara Hume who advised on women’s health. There were also video addresses from Minister Heather Humphreys (FG) and Deputy Niamh Smyth (FF).

An online training course ‘Finding and Winning Tenders’ was also run for businesses interested in competing for tenders for public works. It was delivered by Gordon McArdle, Rocas Training.

The county final of the Student Enterprise Programme was the highlight on Thursday, March 9, in the Hotel Kilmore. Over 130 students from nine schools showcased their mini companies.

Winners

Junior Enterprising Award: Sweets ‘n’ Treats, St Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff

Winner: Little Miss Tea Cups, Royal School, Cavan

Intermediate Winner: BASCAA Frames, St Bricin’s College, Belturbet

Senior Winner: Something for Everyone, Colaiste Dun na Ri, Kingscourt

My Entrepreneurial Journey: Abigail Tully, Breifne College, Cavan

Special Awards:

Innovation: Spoon Savers, Royal School Cavan

Best Social Media & Marketing: Sophie’s Key Wings and Things, Loreto College Cavan

Sustainability Award: Personal Planet, St Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff

Best Creative Business Award: Blathana Glas, Royal School, Cavan

Best Display: Second Chance Breifne, Breifne College, Cavan

Special Award for Teamwork: BIJURK, St Bricin’s College, Belturbet

The winners will represent Cavan at the National Finals on May 5.

The week culminated on Friday, March 10, with the Cavan County Enterprise Awards in Cavan Digital Hub. Nuálach Automation Ltd, Virginia, won the Best Start Up Award and were also named overall winners; Barry John’s Sausages took the Green Sustainability Award and Trave Innovations Ltd won the award for Innovation.

Nuálach Automation go on to represent Cavan at the National Enterprise Awards in June.

Attending the event, Mr Ryan, CE Cavan County Council said, “Small businesses are the biggest employers in County Cavan. That is why it is important to recognise their hard work and achievements.”

SUPPORTS

LEO Cavan runs business training programmes and also offers additional supports including advice, mentoring and development programmes such as Green for Micro, Lean for Micro and Digital Start. To learn more or to speak to a business advisor, contact 049-4377200 or email localenterprise@cavancoco.ie or log on to the website: www.localenterprise.ie/Cavan