Published on Wednesday24thJuly2019

Minister Humphreys announces Taking Care of Business event, which will bring more than 25 State bodies and services together to offer advice to small businesses in the Midlands

20190724  Taking Care of Business

  • Businesses and entrepreneurs called on to register for event showcasing the advice on regulations and supports for small businesses from a diverse mix of State bodies
  • Free half day event will allow existing businesses and entrepreneurs starting new businesses to meet experts from a range of public bodies
  • Opportunity for small business owners to get advice on diversifying into new export markets in preparation for Brexit

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, has called on existing small business owners, and entrepreneurs thinking of starting a business, to register their interest for the ‘Midlands Taking Care of Business’ event on Wednesday 2nd October at the Sheraton Hotel, Gleeson Street, Athlone.

This free half-day event is an initiative of the Government of Ireland, organised by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in conjunction with the Health and Safety Authority and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Taking Care of Business will bring together more than 25 State bodies, and builds on the success of previous events in recent years, which have been attended by approximately 2,700 people from across the country. In the context of Brexit, it is also an opportunity for businesses to seek advice from a range of experts.

The event will have two separate strands:

  • In one part of the conference suite, State bodies will give short and concise presentations focusing on the key regulatory requirements for operating a business in Ireland, as well as on the supports available to help entrepreneurs develop their businesses;
  • Complementing this, in another part of the conference suite, staff from the State bodies will welcome business people to information stands, talking directly to attendees and answering any questions they may have.

Minister Humphreys will open proceedings and she is calling on businesses across the Midlands to register for one of the limited number of places at this important event:

Following very successful events in Dublin and the Mid-West, bringing Taking Care of Business to the Midlands demonstrates our ongoing commitment to regional development. This commitment is shown across a range of activities and policy initiatives including the Regional Enterprise Plans to 2020, which take a ‘ground up’ approach to maximise enterprise development. The Plans aim to deliver an overall jobs uplift of between 10 and 15 per cent in each region by the end of 2020 and to bring or maintain unemployment levels in each region to within at least one percentage point of the State average.

Taking Care of Business also provides an opportunity for businesses to gain vital information, advice and insights in the context of Brexit as a number of the presentations will deal with this important topic. We also shouldn’t forget that beyond Brexit, Ireland remains a very good place to do business. We saw this, for instance in the World Competitiveness ranking, where we have gone from 12th to seventh, and second in the EU.

On the ground, we have initiatives such as the Regional Enterprise Development Fund. In the summer, I announced a further €45m in funding under this scheme which aims to support sustainable job creation in the regions. This Fund should be seen in the context of the Regional Enterprise Plans as well as the whole-of-Government Future Jobs Ireland Plan.

Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen TD, who will also speak at the event, said:

Small businesses are critical to Ireland’s economic success, providing the oxygen that allows regions and communities to survive and thrive.  The Taking Care of Business event is unique in that it provides an under-one-roof opportunity to engage with all the arms of Government relevant to small business development.  I would encourage all small business owners and budding entrepreneurs to visit the event and to see for themselves the huge range of supports and advice that are available.

The State offices and agencies represented will provide information across a wide range of areas, including:

  • Tax, employment, and health & safety obligations;
  • Legal requirements for setting up and running a business;
  • Requirements in areas such as food and environmental safety;
  • Advice on government procurement and intellectual property;
  • Assistance and supports from enterprise agencies, and;
  • Brexit, and the kind of help and supports that are available, including the Brexit Loan Scheme, will be covered.

A number of representative bodies from industry are also supporting the event and will be available to talk to attendees on the day.

To register for the event and for more details including the running order of presentations and the full list of State Bodies attending, please visit www.takingcareofbusiness.ie

Early booking is strongly advised as there are a limited number of places available.