OVER 3,000 new jobs were created last year by the thousands of small businesses that were supported by Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), new figures reveal.
A total of 3,679 new jobs were delivered in 2016 by the 6,846 small businesses from across the country, according to the results of the latest LEO annual jobs survey published by Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor.
In Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, the survey shows that small companies supported by the Local Enterprise Office provided 166 net job gains in the county in 2016.
The results, compiled by Enterprise Ireland, show that overall in 2016 a total of 7,883 new full and part time jobs were created in gross terms among LEO supported companies.
A total of 40 LEO client companies became eligible for transfer to the Enterprise Ireland portfolio during 2016, representing a further positive outcome of LEO investment and support.
The total number of people employed in LEO-supported small businesses stood at 34,634 at the end of 2016.
The 31 LEOs nationwide, run in partnership by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities, provide a ‘first stop shop’ for enterprise supports and sign-posting to start-ups, micro enterprises and small businesses locally.
Minister O’Connor said the LEOs have established themselves as a strong force in job creation in the regions with 10 new jobs created every day on average over the past three years in LEO client companies.
“That is a remarkable performance and is a clear indication of the strong job creation potential that exists in new start-ups and smaller companies right around the country,” the Minister said.
“It also demonstrates that the supports structure for enterprise development at local level delivered through the LEOs is making a real difference.
“I want to pay tribute in particular to the people working in the 31 LEOs for their hard work in supporting their clients.”
The cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Cllr Cormac Devlin, added: “I welcome the increased employment within our county and I want to commend the dedicated staff of the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Local Enterprise Office (LEO) for the proactive way in which they engage and support new and existing enterprises and entrepreneurs right across our county.
“Their new home in County Hall means they are easily accessible to the public and these figures demonstrate the positive role that LEO is having on our economy locally.”
Welcoming the strong performance figures and paying tribute to the LEO team, Georgina Sweetnam, Head of Enterprise, with the Local Enterprise Office in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown said: “The job creation results and strong performance metrics for 2016 demonstrate that LEO supports are making a significant impact in maximising the potential of our micro and small businesses here in the county.”
She added: “During 2017, for access to finance, core business training or advice and guidance on overcoming business challenges, we are encouraging even more small businesses and start-ups to take up supports on offer through the Local Enterprise Office”.
The LEO annual jobs survey monitors employment performance among micro enterprises employing 10 people or less that have received direct financial assistance through the LEOs.
In 2016, 1,040 business projects around the country were directly supported by the LEOs to the value of €11.4 million.
At a local level, 32 business projects in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown received €604,509 in direct financial assistance.