JOBS BOOST FOR FINGAL WITH 206 NET NEW JOBS CREATED

Local Enterprise Office Fingal approves a record €1,300,000 in grant aid to small businesses

• €1,300,000 Approved Grant Funding

• 9th year of year on year jobs growth

• Net employment gain of 206 in 2022

Today, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney TD, announced the annual results of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) for 2022 which showed that LEO Fingal supported companies created 206 net new jobs in 2022.

A record €1,300,000 was approved in 2022 in grant funding for small Fingal businesses ranging from Business Feasibility, Priming and Expansion grants to Trading Online Voucher support and Exporting supports. The 206 net jobs created takes into account companies that amalgamated, ceased trading and those that transferred on to Enterprise Ireland.The new figures show that the LEO Fingal financially supported 239 small businesses in their portfolio across the county these companies in turn employ 1069 people.

The total national figures for the Local Enterprise Offices across the country were announced with the LEOs now supporting 37,863 jobs across 7,221 companies. In 2022 there were 7,870 new jobs created by LEO clients companies with a net jobs creation figure of 3,447. This was up 10% nationally on 2021.

The LEOs also provide substantial funded supports to thousands of other small businesses across the country with programmes such as the Trading Online Voucher, Lean for Micro and Green for Micro along with training and mentoring.

Simon Coveney, T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said: “These results show the significant role the Local Enterprise Offices are playing in not only creating new businesses and jobs but also in sustaining them. On the back of some of the most difficult years for small businesses we are still seeing growth across the country. During the pandemic we saw how essential the LEOs were to small businesses and they will be essential as we navigate the ongoing cost of living and energy crises.

“With 84% of new jobs being created outside of Dublin it reinforces the Government’s strategy to strengthen employment throughout Ireland. As the remit of the Local Enterprise Offices has now broadened to companies up to 50 employees, even more SMEs will be able to avail of their supports, but also their expertise in growing enterprise in towns and villages across the country.”

The Local Enterprise Offices were to the fore in supporting small businesses across the country in 2022, helping thousands to pivot online or adapt their products and services through a large suite of supports. They Local Enterprise Offices offering training and mentoring in a range of areas from financial skills and product innovation to starting your own business and maximising your presence online.

Oisín Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise at LEO Fingal said “The results announced today are a testament to Ireland’s small business community. When faced with adversity, they have adapted, pivoted, upskilled and did whatever it took to sustain themselves. The figures show that companies have seen the opportunities in the challenging trading conditions they have faced. LEOs across the country have gone above and beyond in their support of small businesses but there is renewed optimism. We are seeing new opportunities for Irish businesses here and as always with tough economic periods we see new ideas and companies emerge and flourish. This year will be no different and as we continue to work closely with Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities to ensure our small businesses get the best possible supports there are certainly green shoots emerging across the country.”

Welcoming the strong employment results, Enterprise Ireland CEO, Leo Clancy said: “These are very positive employment results from the Local Enterprise Offices. It demonstrates the close relationship that exists between the LEOs and the companies they support and how they are able to navigate a challenging business environment, such as we witnessed in 2022. Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs are engaged in an exciting work programme to increase alignment between both organisations so that we can better serve businesses at all stages of growth and development and help them to create prosperity and jobs throughout Ireland. I look forward to continuing to work on that agenda in 2023.”

Speaking about the Local Enterprise Office, AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council said:“Local Enterprise Offices play a key strategic role in local authority work to support and sustain enterprise and economic development in their areas. The supports and advice LEOs offer make a real difference to the thousands of businesses that avail of them. In turn, those businesses make a real difference to their localities in terms of job creation and economic activity, as today’s figures show. It is great to see jobs growth continue and to recognise that this growth is happening right across the country.”

Speaking at the announcement, Howard Mahony, Mayor of Fingal said: “The record-breaking level of funding approved in 2022 shows the resilience of Fingal based businesses rebounding after the pandemic and expanding or indeed starting up in the current climate. It is very encouraging to see the jobs growth figures and the supports available from the Local Enterprise Office”