Happy first birthday LEO

THE Fingal Local Enterprise Office (LEO) celebrated its first birthday in style last week by announcing that it has approved

?¬260,000 in funding for 14 small businesses, mostly start-up enterprises.

Speaking at the LEO networking celebration event in Malahide Castle, where more than 200 local businesses gathered, chief executive of Fingal County Council Paul Reid was delighted to present the newly approved business owners with their grant approval letters.

“Small businesses and start-ups are providing a powerful driving force to our local and national economic growth,

? said Mr Reid.

“In Fingal I am proud of the performance of our Local Enterprise Office in its first year.

“It is at the forefront of supporting job creation in dynamic small businesses.

?

Of the 14 Fingal small businesses approved for a share of the

?¬260,000 investment, 11 are start-up businesses while three are existing small businesses.

All of the businesses have demonstrated good growth and future employment prospects and almost all are currently targeting overseas markets for their growth.

The sectors supported include food processing, software, e-commerce, engineering, manufacturing, regulatory services, international specialist consultancies, international publications and content management solutions.

The businesses and new jobs will be spread throughout the Fingal region including Howth, Sutton, Portmarnock, Skerries, Clonsilla, Baldoyle, Blanchardstown, Castleknock, Balbriggan and Lusk.

Head of enterprise in Fingal Oisin Geoghegan said the small businesses were creating 20 much needed new jobs immediately.

“But it will not end there, because we anticipate that employment numbers in these 14 businesses will grow to 50 new jobs after year one, with prospects for further growth and job creation over the next three years in these 14 businesses,

? he said.

The Fingal Local Enterprise Office is one of 31 enterprise offices in the country, established in April 2014.

A large number of local business owner/managers from throughout the region attended the event in Malahide.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Mags Murray joined Mr Reid in the presentation of the grant approval letters to the 14 small businesses.