Author: laois ecodev

The first training and mentoring sessions have taken place in the Connect 2 Laois for Food programme . Colum O’Sullivan from Cully & Sully was a guest speaker at one of the training events.

Visits to the recent National Ploughing Championship in Screegan, Co. Offaly saw many Laois food businesses flying the flag for County Laois.  PaddyO’s Cereal, Garden of Vegan, Kelly Lou Cakes and Adora Flax were among the businesses showcasing their products.

Over the next few months we will visit the businesses of Laois food producers and food operators.  Le Skinny Chef was one of the first ones we visited during September. See link below for more details.

http://www.laois.ie/departments/business-and-economic-development/connect2laois-for-food/

Connect 2 Laois for Food, a collaborative project between Laois County Council, the Local Enterprise Office and Laois Partnership, is a programme of market led innovation, best practice transfer and product and service development.

It is aimed at supporting and nurturing start-up and established businesses in the County and will allow them to have access to a programme of supports to improve their businesses. James Burke & Associates, Ireland’s leading Food Consultants and Retail Advisors, have been recruited to deliver the programme which is funded under the Rural Economic Development Zone (REDZ) Initiative through the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, together with Laois County Council. 30 food businesses from County Laois will avail of specialist training and mentoring to help develop their businesses.

An information session for the Connect 2 Laois for Food programme was held on Wednesday 9^th August in the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise. The event was very well attended by both food producers and food service providers from all over the County. One of the speakers at the event was Darragh Flynn, Director of the Happy Pear. He enthralled those who attended the session with tales of how the Flynn brothers have developed their business from a fruit and vegetable shop in Greystones to a large multi facet business employing 170 people.

He stated “it is very important that any business continuously reviews its direction on a regular basis.  Our growth within The Happy Pear has been relatively fast and we have always been big believers in participating in up-skilling programmes, and surrounding ourselves with mentors who have expertise greater than ours.  I would encourage any Laois food stakeholder to seize the opportunity to participate in the Connect 2 Food Programme”

Programme mentor and trainer James Burke said ‘The support that Laois County Council are providing through this project to food producers and foodservice operators is unprecedented by national standards.  The programme structure will provide food stakeholders with an opportunity to revisit the direction their business is moving in, and together with the support of an external team of experts, to formulate new strategies for their business.

Liz Kennedy, Laois County Council, Project Co-ordinator emphasised that  ‘in addition to the networking and brand awareness opportunities that participation in the Connect 2 Laois for Food programme will afford participants, it will also provide the opportunity to create synergies between the food sector and support agencies in the County . Training and mentoring commence in September 2017.  In addition to the mentoring and training, a Showcase of food in County Laois will also take place during the first quarter of 2018.

Places on the programme are limited. Anyone interested in participating should contact:

Liz Kennedy; Connect 2 Laois for Food, REDZ Project Co-ordinator, Laois County Council, Business Support Unit

Email: lkennedy@laoiscoco.ie; Phone 086 174 6370/ Denise Rainey , Business Support Unit, 057 8664103

http://http//www.laois.ie/departments/business-and-economic-development/Connect2Laois-for-food

Laois County Council is delighted to be associated with the Laois Business Awards 2017 which are all about recognising and celebrating the best in business in Co. Laois.  A huge congratulations to all those that entered on this occasion, we received over 200 nominations from all corners of the county, making our first year of the awards a great success.  The quality of applications received shows huge commitment, drive and passion for enterprise in the County. We wish our 28 finalists the very best of luck and look forward to meeting you at our awards ceremony on the 28^th April.  For those of  that were not shortlisted, we wish you continued success and support as your businesses develop and grow.

Tickets to the awards event on 28th April in the Heritage Hotel Portlaoise are now on sale. Tickets are available online at www.localenterprise.ie/laois

For more information about the awards, check out :http://www.laois.ie/departments/business-and-economic-development/laois-business-awards/

We are delighted to announce that  28 companies have been short-listed for the Laois Business Awards 2017.

Having received over 200 nominations, It was a difficult decision making process but the judging panel have now shortlisted an outstanding selection of local businesses to go forward to the next stage of the awards.

Chief Executive, John Mulholland has said  “A huge congratulations to all those that entered on this occasion, we received over 200 nominations from all corners of the county, making our first year of the awards a great success.  The quality of applications  received shows huge commitment, drive and passion for enterprise in  the County. “

All applicants are being notified this week by Laois County Council, with the short-listed companies being announced in the Laois Nationalist on Tuesday 4th April.

The overall winners will be announced at the Business Awards Dinner on Friday 28th April 2017. Hosted by RTÉ broadcaster, Marty Whelan, the dinner and awards ceremony will see leading Laois business people gather for the event at the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise  to celebrate excellence in enterprise across the county. Guests can look forward to a drinks reception and dinner followed by dancing at the newly refurbished venue. Tickets for the Laois Business Award ceremony are  available from tomorrow -€40 online at www.localenterprise.ie/laois or by contacting Jason Ritchie at Laois County Council 05786 64077

Read more http://www.laois.ie/departments/business-and-economic-development/laois-business-awards/

We are delighted with the response from the Business Community across the County to the Laois Business Awards which will take place on Friday 28th April 2017 in the Heritage Hotel in Portlaoise.

Due to a number of requests from various businesses, we have agreed to extend our deadline for applications to Wednesday 22nd March at 5pm to facilitate some late entries.

We are delighted that the internationally recognised Business Woman, Louise Phelan of Paypal has agreed to chair our independent panel of judges.

If anyone has any queries in relation to the awards they should contact Denise Rainey/Jason Ritchie, Business Support Unit, Laois County Council at 05786 64103/64077

Read more http://www.laois.ie/departments/business-and-economic-development/laois-business-awards/

Nominations for the Laois Business Awards are now being sought. These awards will highlight the success of businesses across a wide range of sectors. Chief Executive John Mulholland says ” We encourage all local businesses, whether established or emerging, big or small, to get nominations in for the various categories. There are excellent businesses operating within the County of Laois and this is the ideal opportunity to showcase them and to get the recognition they deserve”

Nominations are open from today 28th February and close at 5pm on Tuesday 14th March. Anyone can nominate a business, it only takes 2 minutes and you can even nominate your own business, so don’t miss out.

To enter the awards please complete the nomination form here . Nominations forms can also be requested from Laois County Council by emailing; businesssupport@laoiscoco.ie

A business only needs to be nominated once to progress to application stage.  All nominees will be notified and sent an application form or they can complete the application form here . 

Please note that applications will only be accepted once a nomination has been received

For more information about the awards you can like and share the dedicated facebook page for the awards 

Read more about Business and Economic Development here