Local Enterprise Week 2022 will take place from Monday 7th - Friday 11th March 2022 with a series of local business events and initiatives scheduled to take place over the week.
The majority of Local Enterprise Week 2022 will be held remotely with most of our events scheduled to take place online. We will have one in-person networking event which we are very excited about! The Peer to Pier Walk is back for 2022! We can't wait to reconnect with the businesses and entrepreneurs in DLR and hope you will join us for our biggest event in Local Enterprise Week.
Local Enterprise Week Events
Monday 7th March
DRIVING GROWTH THROUGH DIGITISING YOUR BUSINESS
Learn ways in which to improve digitisation in your business - streamline process, be more efficient through automation. Connect your content management system, your customer relationship management software, accounts package and manufacturing processes.
Learn from companies who are already on their digitisation journey. Panel discussion with LEO supported client companies chaired by Joan Mulvihill Digitalisation Lead of Siemens.
Monday, 7th March / 9.30am - 10.45am / Online via Zoom / Free
FOOD: CONSUMER TRENDS IN 2022
What changes in consumer behaviour can the food industry expect this year? How will this affect your food business? What opportunities await?
Join us to hear the latest Bord Bia research and a panel of industry experts discuss trends and insights into how the consumer will behave for 2022 and beyond.
This dynamic event for the food industry will examine emerging trends in food choices and consumption and will interest existing and start-up food producers, farmers, and food operators.
Monday, 7th March / 2.00pm - 3.30pm / Online via Zoom / Free
TOP TEN LEGAL DOCUMENTS FOR START UPS
Having the right documents in place when you start is essential to your business's success. Regardless of where you are in the journey of your business, this session will be informative and eye opening.
Our host, Karl Hutchinson, will give you a brief run through;
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The Top Ten legal documents your should be familiar with
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What you, the small business owner, should look out for
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Where the pitfalls may be
Karl is an experienced founder and lawyer with a special interest in helping small businesses navigate this complex but very necessary area of business.
Monday 7th March / 3.30pm - 5.00pm / Online via Zoom / Free
RETAIL: ADAPTING AND INNOVATING IN AN EVER-CHANGING TRADING ENVIRONMENT
Retailers are, without doubt, some of Ireland’s most resilient and innovative entrepreneurs.The trading environment is constantly changing and retailers not only change with them, but lead on innovation.
This Spotlight event, designed for retailers, focusses on managing change, developing innovative practices, anticipating customer needs, using multiple channels to reach customers and future trends. Hosted by Retail Consultant Miriam Simon and featuring speakers from REI, industry experts, this promises to be a really dynamic and inspiring session.
Monday 7th March / 7.00pm - 8.45pm / Online via Zoom / Free
Tuesday 8th March
INTERNATIONALISING YOUR BUSINESS: DEVELOPING EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES IN A DIGITAL AGE
This dynamic session, is packed with novel and creative digital approaches to export development. Designed for businesses who have achieved success locally through improved e-commerce capability, but are now seeking to expand their trading capability into target International markets.
Learn unique tools for mapping, researching and engaging export markets and scaling business growth. Facilitated by Sam Marchetti of ConsortiaCo, this session will feature Enterprise Ireland Export Development Advisors and entrepreneurs who are already leading the way.
Tuesday, 8th March / 10.00am - 12.00 / Online via Zoom / Free
FROM GOOD TO GREAT: USING LEAN FOR A COMPETITIVE EDGE
This event will provide a hands on introduction to Lean Thinking, showing you how to spot Wastes in your processes.
We will set out the many supports available to businesses to Grow Lean and hear from local businesses who will give an insight into the real and tangible change introducing LEAN principles to their business.
Tuesday, 8th March / 2.00pm - 4.00pm / Online / Free
Wednesday 9th March
GOING GREEN - SMALL STEPS, BIG IMPACT
This event will demonstrate how small businesses can go green and become more sustainable in 2022 and beyond.
Going green and taking steps to getting there is relevant to all sectors and small changes can have a big impact on the environment.
Those attending will gain some top tips on what changes they can make in their own businesses.
Supports available to small businesses to go green will also be discussed, including the Green for Micro Programme.
Wednesday, 9th March / 9:00am - 11:00am / Online / Free
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AGILE AMBITION - FUNDING FOR INNOVATION
Every company needs to innovate. It needs to continue to grow, adapt and evolve to meet the changing needs of the consumer and the marketplace. Sometimes innovation can be small steps, easily taken. But sometimes it requires investment. And here’s where the Agile Innovation Fund can help.
The Agile Innovation Fund gives small companies rapid access to funding to develop new technologies, new products or to respond more quickly to develop new market opportunities.
This event tells the story of two companies who have successfully received this support through their Local Enterprise Office. Their stories demonstrate how this is helping them diversify and scale their businesses. The event will also examine the online application process for the Agile Innovation Fund, giving insights and advice on how to present your case for funding.
Wednesday, 9th March / 11.00am - 12.30pm / Online / Free
LEAN 4 MICRO INFORMATION SESSION
Join us for a free lunch time Informational Webinar setting out the Lean For Micro Programme. The webinar will explain the Lean For Micro Programme as well as emphasising the potential benefits of the programme to a business.
The Informational Webinar will feature a presentation from Stuart Nelson (co-founder and C.I. Director of Jigsaw Better Business) which will provide a valuable insight into the real and tangible change introducing LEAN principles can have on a business followed up with a question and answer session.
Wednesday, 9th March / 1.00pm - 2.00pm / Online / Free
SETTING ANNUAL GOALS AND MAKING THEM HAPPEN (NETWORKING EVENT)
Executive coach Theresa Nanigian will take you through her future-back approach to establishing annual goals and how to adopt simple yet powerful steps to achieve them.
In this session, Theresa will draw on tools and instruments from organisational psychology, cognitive science, positive psychology, the neuroscience of leadership and the coaching profession itself.
There will be plenty of breakout rooms during the event to network and discuss the techniques shared by Theresa.
Wednesday, 9th March / 1.00pm - 2.45pm / Online / Free
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: FIRST STEPS IN PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS
In this practical seminar, you will learn how to identify intellectual property (IP) in your business or processes.
Aimed at technology, manufacturing, processing and creative industries, this event will help you understand the first steps you need to take in protecting your IP assets.
Discover the supports available to you through Enterprise Europe Network, your Local Enterprise Office, Enterprise Ireland and other agencies. And don’t miss the opportunity for a one-to-one consultation session with one of our IP experts.
Wednesday, 9th March / 2.00pm - 5.30pm / Online / Free
HOW BEING GREEN CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS
In collaboration with Dublin City Local Enterprise Office, we are hosting a panel discussion for Local Enterprise Week focusing on aspects of what suppliers (small businesses) need to know & need to be doing with regards to green credentials.
Increasingly larger companies are focusing on their supply chains to improve their own carbon foot-print and hence are pushing their suppliers for answers on their sustainability. We're trying to educate these smaller businesses to be aware of this and what they need to do so they won't lose orders.
This event will be moderated by Brain O'Kennedy, ClearStream Solutions.
Wednesday, 9th March / 4.00pm - 5.15 pm / Online / Free
Thursday 10th March
FUTUREPROOFING YOUR BUSINESS USING SMART TOOLS
This 2 day workshop aims to help small business owners like you, assess if they are using enough, easily available, smart tech tools to save time and work more efficiently. Technology is ever-changing and business owners need to take a tech pitstop to catch up on emerging technology to future proof the business.
Thursday, 10th March / 9.30am - 12.30pm / Online / Free
SOCIAL MEDIA MASHUP (FUTURE TRENDS FOR BUSINESS)
Now more than ever it is important that businesses include social media as part of their business strategy.
This event will be an exciting session for business owner/managers who want to ensure they optimise their current social media platforms and are prepared for future trends. It will feature a host of social media experts, who will discuss topics such as apps you can use to enhance your social media offering, the importance of blogging/vlogging, digital marketing and future trends such as influencer marketing, long form and short form snackable content.
At this event you will discover the true power of social media for your business and leave with lots of tips and tricks you can start using straight away to benefit your business.
Thursday, 10th March / 2.00pm - 4.00pm / Online / Free
PEER TO PIER NETWORKING WALK
Join us for our fifth Networking Walk on Dun Laoghaire's East Pier on Thursday 10th March. Our highly requested Peer to Pier networking walk is finally back!
Are you sick of not meeting new people, chance meetings and sitting down all day?
Meet like-minded people, share stories and do business in this highly effective networking format. The feedback has been fantastic from previous walks with the general experience being highly positive. Walking and networking, as it happens, are a great way to start a meaningful business relationship, create new opportunities and gain different perspectives.
Enjoy a coffee or ice cream at the end of the pier and relax and unwind at the Royal St George Yacht Club for even more networking afterwards.
Thursday, 10th March / 3.00pm (Meeting point - Harbour Plaza) / Free
Friday 11th March
BOOST YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE: HOW TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
Have you recently launched or upgraded your website with a Trading Online Voucher?
Do you want to maximise your online presence and stand out from the crowd?
Join LEO Clare and BrandAmp for an information packed session full of hints and tips on how to boost your business online. Discover how to proactively manage, improve effectiveness, and increase customer acquisition online. Take trading online to the next level and be in with a chance to win a FREE Search Engine Optimisation Mini Audit.
Friday, 11th March / 11:00am - 12:00pm / Online via Zoom / Free
SHOW ME THE MONEY
Raising finance for your business can be a real challenge. Where do you start? Who is the right lender for your business? How do you apply? How do you improve your chances of getting a positive decision?
Join us for an afternoon online seminar featuring financing experts and organisations that invest in small and start-up businesses, including the Local Enterprise Office, Microfinance Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, SBCI, the Credit Review Office and more.
This event is designed to help business owners to understand the types of finance available, what influences lenders decisions, the most common mistakes made in applications and how to manage your long-term relationship with your lender. The event will also examine some of the higher level trends in finance and flag changes you should be aware of.
Friday, 11th March / 2.00pm - 3.45pm / Online / Free
Throughout Local Enterprise Week
FREE BUSINESS MENTORING SESSIONS
Throughout Local Enterprise Week 2022, we will be offering (on a first come basis) free 1 hour one to one sessions with one of our Business Mentors.
The Mentoring Sessions will take place remotely during the week (7th - 11th March).
As we will have a limited number of sessions available, advance booking must be made. Once you book a free session, a Business Mentor will contact you directly to arrange an appointment.
Monday, 7th March - Friday, 11th March / Online / Free
Partner Events
SOUTHSIDE PARTNERSHIP WORKSHOP - BUSINESS IDEA GENERATION
Are you unemployed and living in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown?
Would you like to know more about becoming self-employed?
This workshop will facilitate participants to look at their work experience, hobbies, skills and interests and identify possible opportunities for self-employment. It will help learners develop confidence and highlight creative thinking techniques that can be used outside of the training context.
Delivered by: Maeve Finch
Monday, 7th March / 1.30pm - 4.30pm / Online / Free
SOUTHSIDE PARTNERSHIP WORKSHOP - INTRODUCTION TO SELF-EMPLOYMENT
Are you unemployed and living in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown?
Would you like to know more about becoming self-employed?
Topics covered will include: Moving from ‘Social Welfare’ to self-employment; Business structures; Introduction to the Business Plan and Personal management strategies for business owners.
Delivered by: Peter Cronin
Tuesday, 8th March / 10.00am - 1.00pm / Online / Free
SOUTHSIDE PARTNERSHIP WORKSHOP - INTRODUCTION TO MARKETING
Are you unemployed and living in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown?
Would you like to know more about becoming self-employed?
This practical workshop introduces participants to how knowledge of the customer and competition work together with the Marketing Mix (product, price, promotion and positioning).
Delivered by: Maeve Finch
Wednesday, 9th March / 10.00am - 1.00pm / Online / Free
SOUTHSIDE PARTNERSHIP WORKSHOP - INTRODUCTION TO PRICING
Are you unemployed and living in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown?
Would you like to know more about becoming self-employed?
This workshop will introduce the decisions that go into setting your price, including relating pricing to marketing decisions, the difference between sales and income costs, and breakeven point.
Delivered by: Peter Cronin
Thursday, 10th March / 10.00am - 1.00pm / Online / Free
SOUTHSIDE PARTNERSHIP WORKSHOP - INTRODUCTION TO TAXATION
Are you unemployed and living in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown?
Would you like to know more about becoming self-employed?