By Business & Finance 
An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD announced the annual results of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) for 2021 which showed that Local Enterprise Office supported companies created 7,440 jobs in 2021.
This figure was up significantly from the 5,585 that were created by LEO client companies in 2020. The net jobs created by Local Enterprise Office supported clients in 2021 was 2,999, which takes into account companies that amalgamated, ceased trading and those that transferred on to Enterprise Ireland. In 2021 there were 131 transfers by Local Enterprise Office companies to Enterprise Ireland.
The new figures show that the LEOs financially supported 7,158 small businesses in their portfolio across the country these companies in turn employ 35,729 people. From those figures, 85% of those employed in LEO supported companies are outside the Dublin region.
The LEOs also provide substantial funded supports to thousands of other small businesses across the country with programmes such as the Trading Online Voucher, Lean for Micro and Green for Micro along with training and mentoring.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD said: “Over 35,000 people employed in small businesses around the country have been helped in some way by our Local Enterprise Offices. They are at the heart of communities in every county, always on hand to provide advice, training or financial backing and have proved invaluable throughout the pandemic, during which I know a huge amount of people relied on their local office.
The Local Enterprise Offices were to the fore in supporting small businesses across the country in 2021, helping thousands to pivot online or adapt their products and services through a large suite of supports. They Local Enterprise Offices offering training and mentoring in a range of areas from financial skills and product innovation to starting your own business and maximising your presence online.
Padraic McElwee, chair of the network of Local Enterprise Offices, said; “The results announced today are a testament to Ireland’s small business community. When faced with adversity, they have adapted, pivoted, upskilled and did whatever it took to sustain themselves. The figures show that companies have seen the opportunities in the challenging trading conditions they have faced. The Local Enterprise Offices across the country have gone above and beyond in their support of small businesses but there is renewed optimism. ”
Welcoming the strong employment results, Enterprise Ireland CEO, Leo Clancy said; “2021 was another very positive year for job creation in companies supported by the Local Enterprise Offices. Companies supported by the Local Enterprise Offices are creating good quality employment across the country and play a vital role in vibrant local economies.
For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie
