LEO Cork City focus on Leadership, Exporting and Support Structures during Local Enterprise Week 2026

23/02/2026

Photo Caption: Pictured at recent launch of Local Enterprise Week 2026 are Lord Mayor Cllr. Fergal Dennehy; Director of Services, Rebecca Loughry; Head of LEO Cork City, Dr. Niall O’Keeffe; staff of LEO Cork City with participants/presenters at Local Enterprise Week.

Photo Credit: Darragh Kane.

In-person and online sessions scheduled from March 2nd to 6th

Lessons in leadership, exporting, sustainable procurement and support structures for the self-employed are among the learning experiences that Local Enterprise Office, Cork City is making available to small and micro enterprises this Local Enterprise Week.

The programme of online and in-person events runs from March 2nd to 6th and has been designed to help enterprises across Cork City to take their businesses to the next level, whatever their stage of development. The events are also suitable for someone currently considering self-employment.  All events are free to attend but advance online booking is essential.

Using your image as a valuable tool in business will be of interest to anyone who wants to dress with intention and style consultant Lynda Di Blasi will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice at Wearing Your Brand, an online session on the opening day of Local Enterprise Week.

For anyone considering turning their passion project into a paying gig, From Side Hustle to Start Up will help interrogate the idea and arm would-be entrepreneurs with the practical understanding and necessary tools to make informed decisions around business ownership. LEO Business Supports & Grants and Stepping Stones to Self-Employment and Beyond will both explore the supports – financial and otherwise – available to start-ups and small/micro enterprises based in Cork City, while Export Excellence is aimed at these businesses taking their first steps into international markets.

For businesses developing their eco-credentials, Sustainable Procurement would be an hour well spent for small/micro enterprises pitching for projects through Sustainable Public Procurement, and the ever-entertaining Colm O’Regan offers a wry take on greening your business with Climate Worrier. Resilience is something every entrepreneur needs in spades, and Leadership Insights with Marie Gleeson – run in collaboration with Network Cork and LEO South Cork – offers transformative advice from the former Naval Captain and current MD of NavMar Leadership.

The week closes out with an in-person workshop called Makers In Focus where renowned photographer Joleen Cronin will demonstrate how creative small businesses can take better photographs of their work using smartphones. 

Online advice clinics will run across the week with experts offering valuable insights in areas including business development, finance, marketing and social media.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Fergal Dennehy says he’s looking forward to the week: “We are very lucky to have the Local Enterprise Office, Cork City offering support and advice to hundreds of businesses every year. Local Enterprise Week has a really exciting schedule of events for start-ups and the small/micro enterprise sector and I would encourage people to register for the events and make the most of what’s on offer.”

Dr. Niall O’Keeffe, Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office, Cork City, said; “Local Enterprise Week is a shop window for all of the offerings and services that the Local Enterprise Office have. We have a tremendous amount of supports for businesses at all stages of development, everything from business advice clinics to mentoring, to training across a whole range of topics. Then we have a lot of examples of practical, tangible, positive outcomes from getting involved in some of the schemes, whether it’s being a more LEAN business, focusing on digital or focusing on green. We also have grants for businesses that are looking to trade internationally or export or are in the manufacturing field.”

For further information on LEO Cork City’s complete programme of events for Local Enterprise Week and to book your place online, visit www.localenterprise.ie/corkcity

 Additional Information

The Local Enterprise Offices, located in the Local Authorities and funded through Enterprise Ireland, support thousands of small Irish businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide.  Since their establishment in 2014 they have been the first stop for entrepreneurs and small businesses in providing a range of supports including funding, mentoring, training and sector specific expertise to help guide businesses at any stage of their development.

They also run key initiatives to foster entrepreneurship across the country including Local Enterprise Week, National Women’s Enterprise Day, the Student Enterprise Programme and the National Enterprise Awards.  The Local Enterprise Offices are also running a campaign encouraging small businesses to save time, money and energy by availing of their competitiveness and productivity supports including Green, Lean and Digital for Business.  www.AllInADaysWork.ie  For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie