The Government has announced a new improved system of Local Enterprise Offices in each local authority with more funding, more staff and more services.
Key features of the new Local Enterprise Office (LEO) system will include:
• Additional funding of €3.5million in 2014;
• 170 dedicated staff across the LEOs system, supplemented by a new Graduate Recruitment Programme to take place shortly and supported by a further 40 Local Authority staff;
• Additional services including a new Young Entrepreneurship Fund, Microfinance Ireland, Credit Guarantee Scheme, and access to services from Revenue and Dept Social Protection;
• System will combine new supports with business services currently delivered by CEBs and those delivered by Local Authorities in a “first-stop shop” located in Local Authority offices , under overall framework set by Minister for Jobs and Enterprise Ireland;
• Each LEO, embedded in a local authority, will develop a local plan for boosting enterprise, with targets including new business start-ups, business expansions and jobs created or sustained as well as wider economic impacts such as exports, mentoring, training and enterprise promotion. This represents a fundamental reform of local government so that services are delivered and decisions made closer to the people;
• New training programmes for all staff in customer support, and a new customer service charter which will include targets for levels of service delivery.
The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs also published the eighth quarterly progress report under the Action Plan for Jobs, showing that 299 out of the 333 actions committed to in the 2013 plan have been delivered. The system of public quarterly progress reports is a crucial part of the Action Plan for Jobs system – the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs holding themselves accountable in public on delivery every quarter ensures that implementation actually happens, in contrast with many high-profile plans under previous Governments.
The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD said:
"Following Ireland's successful exit from the bailout in December, the Government is determined that 2014 will be 'the year for jobs'. This means a relentless drive for job creation and the continued implementation of the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work. Brick-by-brick we are rebuilding a competitive, enterprise and export focused economy and reforming local government so that it can become an engine of economic development. Implementation of our plan is key and I'm happy to report that 95% of the actions required under the Action Plan for Jobs during the past two years have been delivered. While positive movements in the Live Register and our international rankings as an economy are welcome, there is no more urgent task than for us as a Government than getting Ireland working and this will be the constant focus of the Year for Jobs."
The Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore TD said:
“As we have seen in recent weeks, the export led recovery is continuing as we attract more inward investment, evidenced by the recent series of very welcome job announcements. A key focus of the cabinet discussion, was how we can do more to translate that growth into more jobs in the domestic economy. The critical next step is to see growth in exports translated into further jobs in the real economy, such as in construction and retail. Those sectors are particularly jobs-rich, and fit the existing skills of many people currently without work.”
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD said:
“Start-ups and small businesses are crucial to our plans for jobs and growth. 200,000 SMEs in Ireland employ more than 650,000 people in Ireland, and two thirds of all new jobs come from businesses in their first five years of existence. That is why we asked an expert group of entrepreneurs under Sean O’Sullivan to recommend actions in this area. And that is why with Minister Hogan and the Local Government system we are radically overhauling disparate system of supports for small business we inherited to provide a first-stop shop in every county where entrepreneurs and business-people can access all the Government supports they need''.
“This is the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs working. Previous Governments published high-profile plans but could not or forgot to implement them. For 24 months we have held ourselves to account in public every quarter – this ensures that the things that need to get done actually get done. The cumulative effects of this are beginning to be seen, with 58,000 extra people at work in the past year. The challenge now is to press ahead with Action Plan for Jobs 2014, build on the progress we have made, and create the jobs we need”.
For further information contact:
Conor Quinn, Press Advisor to Minister Bruton: Tel: 087 3743783, email: conor.quinn@djei.ie
Press Office, DJEI: Tel: 01 631 2200, email: press.office@djei.ie
LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICES (LEOs)
Small business is the main source of jobs in Ireland. Energising the local enterprise environment to stimulate start-ups and the expansion of small business is a key element of the Government’s business and job creation strategy. Vibrant local entrepreneurship is also key to Ireland becoming the best small country in which to do business.
The LEOs represent a transformation of the support for small enterprise across every county. Small business will have a central place in national enterprise policy and this will feed down to local level and local authorities will strengthen their direct engagement and support for business ideas and jobs.
The new service means that national enterprise policy and local business supports will be brought together to strengthen the local business culture and environment, combining the best of the County Enterprise Boards and the Local Authorities, within a framework set by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation and overseen by Enterprise Ireland.
Each LEO will develop a local plan for boosting enterprise. The ambition is to maximise entrepreneurship and job creation at local level. Key targets in the local plan will be new business start-ups, business expansions and jobs created or sustained as well as wider economic impacts such as exports, mentoring, training and enterprise promotion. The Local Authorities will also bring new initiatives and opportunities for supporting local enterprise.
The 31 LEO 0ffices, with 170 dedicated staff, and supported by additional Local Authority liaison personnel, will be the local hub for enterprise support, delivering a comprehensive ‘first stop shop’ service to local entrepreneurs and businesses:
• Combining direct grants, mentoring and training (formerly delivered by the County Enterprise Boards) with business supports and assistance available through the Local Authorities.
• Utilising local business expertise to evaluate projects.
• Providing training and mentoring on starting your own business, including drawing up a business plan or accessing commercial space;
• Providing an enhanced advice and guidance service embracing all other local and national supports.
• Direct referral of clients to Enterprise Ireland.
• Direct referral to the Microfinance Ireland and Loan Guarantee Schemes.
• Direct advice and guidance on Local Authority rates, procurement and regulations affecting business.
This restructuring of enterprise supports as well as additional governmental support means that the new service will be enhanced in several different ways;
• Additional funding of €3.5m (20%) in 2014
• A new Entrepreneurship Fund aimed at start-ups by under 25’s
• Additional Local Authority staff to complement the existing CEB staff
• Placement of newly recruited business graduates in LEO’s to stimulate business ideas in the county.
• A Centre of Excellence in Enterprise Ireland to ensure ‘best practice’ ideas transfer across the LEO network and to encourage LEOs to take initiatives at regional level.
• New training programmes for all staff in customer support, in line with the new customer service charter, and in respect of the additional new services available from the LEO office.
On average, CEBs assist approximately 1,000 micro-enterprise projects each year through direct grant assistance in addition to providing soft supports including training, mentoring and management development to a significant number of micro-enterprises. In 2013, just over €9.5m was provided by the CEBs to micro-enterprises by way of capital grant support, with just under €8.5m spent in providing soft supports. Provisional activity outputs for 2013 indicate that there were over 26,000 participants on CEB training courses and over 6,500 participants on management programmes, while almost 6,000 clients received mentoring support.