Women urged to take the plunge in business

BUSINESS women from across Dún Laoghaire Rathdown celebrated National Women’s Enterprise Day in Portlaoise recently.

Self-belief and the importance of creating connections were two of the key messages that delegates took from this year’s event that attracted more than 300 women from all over the country.

They heard from guest speakers and fellow business women who encouraged attendees to have the confidence to start their own business and to use the networks around them to grow that business.

Supported by the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Enterprise Board, the annual two-day conference at the Heritage Hotel in Portlaoise Town set out to bridge the gender divide in Ireland by encouraging more women to consider setting up their own enterprises.

On the eve of National Women’s Enterprise Day, Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People, Kathleen Lynch gave a keynote address encouraging women in the room to develop and nurture their networks and support each other in the world of business.

National Women’s Enterprise Day featured a full day of networking events, free mentoring sessions and workshops facilitated by broadcaster Colette Fitzpatrick.

Guest speakers Eleanor McEvoy of Budget Energy and Ramona Nicholas of Cara Pharmacy spoke about their own experiences in business.

Both business ladies reiterated the message that self-belief is a key component in establishing a business and they encouraged women to find the confidence to do so.

A discussion panel of four business women were also on stage during the day for

‘Telling It As It Is” that included Rosaria Piseri of AlgAran Seaweed Products (Donegal), Pauline Naughton of P&G Cards (Roscommon), Mag Kirwan of Goatsbridge Trout Farm (Kilkenny) and Davinia Lynch of Davinia Lynch Millinery (Cavan).

Michael Johnson, CEO of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Enterprise Board, said the success of National Women’s Enterprise Day lay in the unique opportunity for female business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to hear the stories and real-life experiences of inspiring women in business.

“They also meet like-minded entrepreneurs at the networking events, access experienced business mentors and speak to various support and State agencies at the enterprise exhibition,

? he said.

“It is a one-stop shop for entrepreneurship, giving more women the confidence and self-belief to consider setting up their own businesses.

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Hosted by the County and City Enterprise Boards, the National Women’s Enterprise Day conference was supported by the Department of Justice Equality & Law Reform and Enterprise Ireland.

The County and City Enterprise Boards supported 16,525 female entrepreneurs in 2012 with women accounting for 55 per cent of the total number of business people who participated in training from the Enterprise Board network. The network provides training, grant aid, mentoring, networking and other supports to small businesses.