News & Events

More than 140 entrepreneurs attend Taking Care of Business event in North East

Minister Nash addresses free one stop shop event organised by Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and HSA to coincide with the Startup Gathering

More than 140 entrepreneurs from all over the North East region attended the “Taking Care of Business” event held in the Westcourt Hotel in Drogheda today (Thurs 8th Oct).

The free half day workshop, organised by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Health and Safety Authority, is aimed at providing existing entrepreneurs and those thinking of starting a business with all the information they need from across the public sector.

More than 25 State bodies are brought together for the one stop shop event, which is part of the Action Plan for Jobs and this week coincides with the Startup Gathering. Delegates divided their time between presentations from experts on the Government supports available to business and the key regulatory requirements in one dedicated area, and information stands in another, which allowed for more informal interaction.

Minister for Business & Employment and Louth/East Meath TD Ged Nash addressed the half day event. He said, “Business owners and particularly those who have just started a business are busy people and Taking Care of Business which I hosted in my own home town of Drogheda today is a great way to get all the information they need on regulation and Government supports for SMEs in one spot.”

“I am particularly pleased that as part of the Startup Gathering, with the theme start, scale and succeed in Ireland, my Department brought this Taking Care of Business event to the North East. It is one of the series of events showcasing and supporting our startup ecosystem in Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan. I hope that the entrepreneurs who attended this event left equipped with all the information they need to take their business or their enterprise idea to the next level.”

“With two thirds of all new jobs coming from startups in their first five years of existence it is vital that I and my colleagues across Government and our agencies support them, including by ensuring entrepreneurs are aware of the great range of supports available to them.”

The State offices and agencies represented provided information across a wide range of areas, including:

  • Tax,      employment and Health & Safety obligations;
  • Legal      requirements for setting up and running a business;
  • Requirements      in areas such as food and environmental safety;
  • Advice      on government procurement and intellectual property;
  • Assistance      and supports from enterprise agencies and Local Authorities.

Local entrepreneur Geoff Fitzpatrick, Managing Director of Jack Cody’s Craft Beer chaired the first set of presentations. While Anne Reilly, Managing Director of Paycheck Plus and Margaret Reilly, Managing Director of CTR Manufacturing were the chairs for the other two sessions.

Taking Care of Business events have previously been held in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

For more information please visit www.takingcareofbusiness.ie

ENDS

For further information please contact Press Office, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, 01-6312200 Press.Office@djei.ie