Minister Micheál Martin launches new common brand for County and City Enterprise Boards

• New County and City Enterprise Boards Logo (Right-click and 'Save as...)

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin today (Friday 15^th April 2005) launched a new brand to be adopted by the country's network of 35 County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs).

Speaking at the launch in Cork Minister Martin said "I believe that the adoption of this national brand should heighten awareness of the CEBs at a national level and help to promote the availability of the services offered by the CEBs to a wider audience. Just as our entrepreneurs make use of every opportunity to market their wares, the CEBs will now be placed to take advantage of being both a locally based and nationally networked recognisable brand. The new logo clearly signifies an urgent sense of forward focus and action and it conveys a strong sense of unity and strength in a common desire to achieve a mission objective"

Wishing them well in their new endeavour, Minister Martin urged all CEBs to exploit the opportunities which their new image will undoubtedly create for improved effectiveness and enhanced impact.

The Minister applauded the extremely important role played by the CEBS in developing the small business sector. He noted that in the year 2004 alone, the CEBs had

• supported the creation of almost 1,400 new jobs;
• provided training for nearly 16,000 people in micro-enterprises, of which nearly 9,000 were women;
• introduced more than 9,000 schoolchildren to the concept of entrepreneurship as a legitimate career option through their excellent National Student Enterprise Awards Programme.

Minister Martin acknowledged the huge contribution made by the CEBs in the period of just over a decade since their establishment. In that time, they have supported more than 17,000 projects in the micro-business sector and aided the creation of approximately 30,000 new jobs.

Minister Martin said he was aware that there had been some concerns about the future of the CEBs after the end of the current round of EU funding in 2006. However, he indicated that it was his intention that funding for the CEBs would, subject to the usual budgetary constraints, be maintained for the foreseeable future.

Minister Martin also confirmed that the Government has approved the establishment of a new Central Co-ordination Unit within Enterprise Ireland which will provide CEBs with central direction, technical support, shared services and quality assurance. The establishment of this new unit had been recommended by the Enterprise Strategy Group as a means of a bringing about a closer integration of the CEBs into the mainstream enterprise development system. The implementation of this recommendation should facilitate an enhanced structural, monitoring and reporting framework for CEBs and should optimise their operational effectiveness and scope for in-the-field impact. Discussions have already commenced between the Department and the agencies concerned regarding the steps necessary to implement this recommendation.

Minister Martin said "with the improved effectiveness that the new structures should deliver and a greater focus on core objectives, I believe that the CEBs can continue to play a critical role in the ongoing development of the Irish economy".

ENDS/ETE1341

Notes for Editors

The 35 City and County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) were established in 1993 to provide a source of support for small businesses with 10 employees or fewer. The function of the Boards is to develop indigenous enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity at local level. The Boards provide a single point of contact at local level for new and established small businesses. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, enterprises may qualify for support from the CEBs in the form of feasibility, employment and capital grants. In addition, the CEBs deliver a comprehensive range of development and support programmes designed to help, new and existing enterprises to operate effectively and efficiently so as to last and grow.

Most of the funding for the CEBs is provided by the Exchequer and the European Regional Development Fund under the National Development Plan, 2000 - 2006. Funding of nearly €30m is being provided for 2005, while the cumulative funding provided for the CEBs since their establishment in 1993 is in excess of €352.98.

Each CEB operates as a stand-alone limited company whose operations are performed on the basis of an operating agreement between it and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. ENDS