Kilkenny Group CEO Evelyn Moynihan, entrepreneur Bobby Kerr, comedian Chris Kent, West Cork Distillers founder John O’Connell, and internationally acclaimed comic book artist Will Sliney are among the headline speakers taking part in Local Enterprise Week, which begins across County Cork this week.
They will be joined by former Naval Captain Marie Gleeson, photographer Joleen Cronin, and Mark White, founder of Padel Tennis Ireland, in a programme aimed at helping business owners navigate shifting consumer trends, emerging technologies and growing competitive pressures.
Running until Friday 6th March, the initiative of Cork County Council’s Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) will see 25 events take place across the county, covering topics such as exporting, digital marketing, access to finance, leadership and artificial intelligence.
Businesses with international ambition can attend Exporting Excellence: Turning Ambition into Action, at the Talbot Hotel, Ballincollig on Tuesday (3rd March) morning. The half-day workshop aims to guide SMEs through the early stages of breaking into international markets.
Creative entrepreneurs will be in the spotlight at Local Talent to Global Success, which takes place on Tuesday afternoon at the Seachurch in Ballycotton. Will Sliney and Chris Kent will discuss building global audiences from a Cork base, drawing on their careers in visual storytelling and comedy.
One of the flagship events of the week, Future Proofing Small Businesses, will take place at the Charleville Park Hotel on Tuesday evening. Kilkenny Group CEO Evelyn Moynihan will discuss the shifting challenges facing Irish retail, from changing consumer behaviour to the growing role of digitalisation in building resilient brands. The event will also hear from Charlene Flanagan, co-founder of Ella & Jo, in a session aimed at retailers, makers and service providers seeking to strengthen visibility and sales in the year ahead.
Innovation and growth take centre stage at the Inchydoney Hotel, Clonakilty on Thursday (5th March), in a conference hosted by entrepreneur Bobby Kerr. Innovate to Elevate: Helping SMEs Grow in Challenging Times will feature fireside chats and panel discussions with business owners including John Boyle of Stone Valley Coffee Roasters, Laura Lyons, founder of Sónua Candles, and John O’Connell, whose West Cork Distillers brand has grown into a globally recognised drinks business.
Social entrepreneurship will be examined at Rethinking Impact: Why Not a Social Enterprise, at the Fota Education, Conservation & Research Centre. The event will include a keynote from Giorgia Anile, founder of The Toy Library, and will hear from social entrepreneurs working across Cork.
Full programme details and booking information are available by clicking the link for the Local Enterprise Office website below.
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