...Is spéis linn do ghnó

...Let’s talk business

European UnionEuropean Regional Development Fund

KildareCountyCouncilComhairleContaeCillDara

INTRODUCTION BY KILDARE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

ThesettingupofthenewLocalEnterpriseOfficeKildare(LEO)marksaverysignificantstepforwardinthedeliveryofsupportservicesforenterpriseinCountyKildare.ThenewunitcombinesthestrengthandexperienceofKildareCountyEnterpriseBoardoverthepast20yearswiththesignificantresources,commitmentandcapacityofKildareCountyCouncil.“Wearedelightedtobeprovidingthisnewandenhancedsupportforsmallbusinessesatalocallevel”saidChiefExecutiveEamonnO’Sullivan.“LEOswillbethefrontlineindeliveringbusinessgrowthandjobs,providingdirectsupportandpullingtogetheralltheplayers–agencies,localauthoritiesandtheprivatesector–tosupporteveryonewithagoodbusinessideaandstrengthentheenterprisesectorinKildare.”

TheLEOisthe‘firststopshop’forallGovernmentsupportsforanyonewhowantstostartorexpandtheirbusinessandcreatejobs.

“Wewilldeveloplocalenterpriseplansputtingmicroandsmallbusinessattheheartofjobcreationlocally.BybringingthefunctionsoftheoldCountyEnterpriseBoardintoKildareCountyCouncilstructuresweareconfidentthatwecanofferamorestreamlinedserviceforclients.Ouraimistoovercomethetypicalbarrierstosuccessthatsmallbusinessesfacesuchasmanagementskills,accesstofinanceorlackofmarketingorplanningskills”,addedEamonnO’Sullivan.

“WelookforwardtoworkingwiththenewunitandwewishMaryFitzpatrickandherteammuchsuccessastheyembarkonthisexcitingnewventure”.

WORD FROM MARY FITZPATRICK HEAD OF LOCAL ENTERPRISE

MaryFitzpatrickhasworkedwiththeformerCountyEnterpriseBoardfornearly20yearsandwasitsCEOforthepasttwoyears.SheisnowtheHeadofLocalEnterpriseandwelcomingthechangeoverMarysays“Wehaveanewname,anewoffice,additionalstaffandmorefundingsoitisanexcitingtimetobeheadinguptheLocalEnterpriseOffice.BybringingourbusinessknowledgeandsupportsintotheLocalAuthority,wecandeliveramorestreamlinedservicetoourclients.Wearetheconnectionbetweenthebusinesscommunity,KildareCountyCouncil,EnterpriseIrelandandallstateagenciestaskedwithsupportingenterprise,jobs,innovationandentrepreneurship.”

Despitealltheproblems,thereisalotofoptimism,businessconfidenceisimprovingandexistingbusinessesarethinkingaboutexpanding.Maryandherteamarelookingforwardtothechallengeofbuildingonthatconfidenceandturningitintojobs.

Who are we?LocalEnterpriseOfficeKildareisthenewnamefortheCountyEnterpriseBoard.Wearethe“firststopshop”forallgovernmentsupportsforanyonewhowantstostartorexpandtheirbusinessandcreatejobsinKildare.Wewillbethefrontlineindeliveringbusinessgrowthandjobsandinprovidingdirectsupporttoeveryonewithagoodbusinessidea.Wewillpullinthefullsupportofotheragencies–Revenue,SocialProtection,MicrofinanceIreland,SkillnetsandtheEducation&TrainingBoards,theCreditReviewOffice–givingthebestpossibleservicetopeopleinthesmallandmediumenterprisesector.

Where are we?OurnewofficesarelocatedinKildareCountyCouncilheadquartersatDevoyPark,Naas.Weareopenfrom9amto1pmand2pmto5pmdailyandcanbecontactedon045980838orbyemailtolocalenterprise@kildarecoco.ie.

Who can we help?•Anyonewithabusinessidea•Anyonewithanestablishedbusinesslookingforinformation,advice,training, mentoringorfinancialassistance•Firsttimeoryoungentrepreneurs•Start-ups•Micro&smallbusinesseslookingtoexpand

How can we help?Our mission is to promote entrepreneurship, foster business start-ups and develop existing micro and small businesses to drive job creation and to provide accessible high quality supports for business ideas.

• Weprovidestrategic,administrative,technicalandfinancialsupportandservices tostart,growanddevelopmicroandsmallbusiness.• Weofferawiderangeofexperience,skillsandservicesandwecanconnect peopletoallthestateagenciestheyrequire.• Weprovidegrantstothoseinmanufacturingorwhoaretradinginternationally. (Eligibilitycriteriaapply)• Weorganiseenterpriseevents,supportinglocalbusinessnetworks andworkingwithlocalChambersandotherorganisations.• WealsopromoteentrepreneurshipinouryoungpeoplethroughourStudent EnterpriseAwardsprogramme.• Wewillcontinuetoprovideappropriateandrelevanttraining,mentoring andbusinessadvice.

What we do:Business Information & Advisory Services• Business&managementplanning,financialadvice,how-toguidesetc.• Advice&informationonrates,planning&licensing• Information&accesstoothergovernmentservicessuchasRevenue,Social Protection,SOLAS,CompaniesRegistrationOffice,CreditReviewOffice• Adviceonpublicprocurement

Enterprise Support & Development Services• Financialsupportforthemanufacturingsector&internationallytradedservices• TrainingprogrammesinareassuchasStartYourOwnBusiness,Marketing, FinancialManagement• Mentoringsupports• Websitedevelopmentsupport• ProgressionsupportforbusinesseswithpotentialtobecomeEnterpriseIreland clients

Local Economic Development Services• DevelopmentofaLocalEnterprisePlaninconjunctionwiththeCountyCouncil• InputonlocalpolicyincludingtheCountyDevelopmentPlan• PromotionofKildareasalocationforinvestment• AssistindevelopingappropriateenterpriseinfrastructureinKildare

Entrepreneurship Support Services• StudentEnterpriseAwards• NetworkKildare–afemaleentrepreneurnetwork• Ireland’sBestYoungEntrepreneur

CASE STUDIES

Future PlasticsFuturePlasticsisaKildarebasedplasticsmanufacturerofthermoformedplasticcomponentsandPermanentPointofSaleSolutions.CustomersincludemultinationalcorporationsandretailerssuchasIntel,Cargotec,Unilever,MarsandLidl.Withabackgroundinsalesmanagement,GaryFoley,itsCEO,alwayswantedtosetuphisownbusiness.

In2007,anopportunitytodosomethingaboutitpresenteditself.In2008,Garyre-mortgagedhishouseandpurchasedadivisionwithinthebusinessthathehadbeensalesmanagerformanyyears.FuturePlasticswasborn.Relocatingamanufacturingoperationwithlimitedmanpoweronatightbudgetwasadauntingtask.KildareEnterpriseBoardwasahugehelpwithassistingthistask.FuturePlasticsweresuccessfulinraising€25Kfundingwhichwasanenormousboostatthattime.Thefundingdidnotcomeeasy.

AstructuredBusinessPlanwasneededwhichisstillreferredtoandusedtothisday.Annualturnoverinthecompanyhasgrown

from€700Kinyear€1to€€1.8million6yearslater.KildareCEBwasveryhelpfulintheearlyyearsandGaryattendedtheManagementDevelopmentProgrammewhichwassponsoredbytheCEB.ThestaffintheCEBwerefriendlyandreallygotbehindandunderstoodthebusiness.FuturePlasticsnowemploys20peopleandareaclientofEnterpriseIreland.Thecompanyisnowinthemiddleofa€1.2million

R&Dprogrammeandintendstodoublerevenuesoverthenext3years.TheprogrammeispartfundedbyEnterpriseIrelandandshareholderfunds.Thecompanyisgrowingrevenuesandstaffnumbersyearonyear.ThissuccessstorystartedwiththehelpofKildareCEB.

Fulfilment.ieEverystepofthewayoverthelastfewyearsithasbeenacaseof“howcanwehelpyou?”whenwehaveinteractedwithKildareCountyEnterpriseBoard.Thathelphascomeinmanyways,training,adviceandfinancial,allofwhichhasbeenofenormousassistancetoourbusiness.

WehavebeenheartenedallalongourjourneybytheenthusiasticsupportandencouragementoftheteamatourlocalCountyEnterpriseBoardespeciallywhenwehave“hitthewall”onoccasion.

Fulfilment.iewillbeaonestopshopforSME’sandindividualswhosellonline,areplanningproductrangeextensions,start-upsetc..Weprovideafullwarehouse,pick,packandshipservicethatallowsourclientstofocusonproductdevelopment,marketingandsaleswhilstallthebackofhousehassleofgettingtheproducttomarketandbuyersissafewithus.

TanOrganicNoelleO’ConnorrodethedizzyinghighsoftheCelticTiger,camebacktoearthwithabangandthenpickedherselfbackuptothepointwheresheisnowlookingatamultimillioneuropayday.

FromNewbridge,NoellefinishedschoolwithanexcellentLeavingCertbutdidn’tgotouniversity.Shestudiedbeautytherapyandopenedachainofsalons.Thentherecessionhitandslammedthedooronallherhopes.ButNoelleisan

entrepreneurandadrivenbusinesswomanandshewentontocreateTanOrganic–anatural,odourless,certifiedorganic,paraben-freesunlesstanproduct.Noellealsostartedadistributioncompanyspecialisinginnaturalskin-carerangesandmineralmake-up,beingthefirsttobringmineralmake-uptoIreland.OpportunitiespresentedthemselvesandNoelleseizedthem.SheappearedonDragons’Denandsucceededinbeingoffered€50,000for45%ofhercompanybyGavinDuffy.ShealsoavailedoftheopportunitiespresentedbytheCountyEnterpriseBoardandbenefitedfrombusinessexpansiongrants,mentoringandtheManagementDevelopmentProgramme.

TanOrganicisthefirstandsofartheonlyEco-certifiedself-tanningbrandintheworld.Thiscertificationisoneofthemoststringentinthemarketplaceandrequiresarigorous18-monthprocess.TanOrganichassincegoneglobalandiscurrentlyavailablein18countries,withmoreinthepipeline.Noelleisabelieverinthefuture.“Nomatterhowbadthingsget,tomorrowisalwaysanotherdayandopportunitiesaretheretobegrabbed,”,shesays.

THE LEO TEAM

Mary Fitzpatrick, Head of Local EnterpriseMaryhasbeenwiththeCountyEnterpriseBoard,nowLEO,since1996.ShewasAssistantChiefExecutiveOfficerforanumberofyearsuntiltakingoverasCEOin2012.MaryhasledthesuccessfultransitiontothenewlyestablishedKildareLocalEnterpriseOfficenowfirmlyestablishedinÁrasChillDarainNaas.

AsHeadofLocalEnterpriseandamemberoftheseniormanagementteamofKildareCountyCouncil,Maryisuniquelyplacedtonurtureasustainable,pro-businessenvironmentwhichsupportsenterprisesinallsectorsandpromotesKildaregloballyasalocationofchoiceforbusinessandinvestment.Herkeyoverarchingobjectiveistosupportexistingbusinesses,buildnewbusinessandtogrowemploymentwithinthecounty.

Mary Foley, Administrative OfficerMaryFoleyisthenewestmemberoftheLEOteam.MaryworkedinthePlanningDepartmentofKildareCountyCouncilforanumberofyearsandbeforethatwasLeixlipTownClerk.Maryisresponsibleforco-ordinatingthetrainingprogramme.StudentEnterpriseAwards,BusinessAdviceClinicsandmarketingandpromotionofLEO.

Phyllis DonohoePhyllisjoinedtheCountyEnterpriseBoardin2003followingaperiodworkingintheprivatesectorandforKildareEuropeanLeaderTeo(KELT).PhyllisisresponsibleforthefinancialmanagementofLEO.

Anne Marie BurkeAnneMariejoinedtheCountyEnterpriseBoardin1996andisthelongestservingmemberofstaff.SheisresponsiblefortheadministrationofalltheBoard’sactivitiesandkeepingthesocialmediaoutletsuptodate.

A 10-STEP GUIDE TO STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS

• Testyourbusinessidea• WhataboutMarketResearch• Whatareyourbusinessrequirements• Whatareyourinvestmentrequirements• Developingyourmarketingstrategy• Developingyoursalesplan• Whatisthebestlegalstructureforyou• Managingtherisks• Avoidingunnecessaryrisks• Writingyourbusinessplan

AND THE GOOD NEWS IS.....LEO CAN HELP YOU WITH ALL OF THESE!

READY, STEADY, GO - November2014,KeadeenHotel,NewbridgeorganisedbyNewbridgeChamberofCommerce.Thiseventisdesignedtoreplicatethesuccessofasimilaroneheldin2012andwillcompriseanEnterpriseExhibition,SeminarswithKeySpeakers(inthreesections),OnetoOneMentoring,BusinesstoBusinessNetworkingandanEnterpriseCompetition.FurtherinformationfromDavidO’ReillyofNewbridgeChamberofCommerce.Email: office@newbridgechamber.ie

KILDARE EXPO 2015 – FEBRUARY 2015PunchestownExhibitionCentreorganisedbyNorthKildareChamber.AbusinessledinitiativetohelpcreatejobsandopportunitiesinKildarebyrepresentingandpromotinglocallybasedmanufacturingandtechnologybusinessesregardlessoftheirsize.FurtherinformationfromAllanShineofNorthKildareChamberofCommerce.Email: info@northkildarechamber.ie

Kildare LEOArasChillDara,DevoyPark,Naas,Co.KildareTel:045980838email:localenterprise@kildarecoco.iewww.localenterprise.ie/Kildare