Female entrepreneurs to create 10 new jobs

A GROUP of 11 West Cork business women successfully launched their new and invigorated businesses recently on completion of a Women in Business programme. 

The women who come from a diverse range of business sectors in the area including creative businesses, service led businesses and food manufacturing are expected to create more than 10 new jobs between them in the
next 12 months.

The programme was funded and managed by Cork County Council’s Local Enterprise Office Cork North and West. The intensive programme which began four months ago was aimed at women who have been in business for a minimum of one year and those employing up to 10 employees. 

Led by business coaches Billy O’Connor and Veronica Murphy of Discovery Partnership Ltd, participants were provided with the tools they need to grow and develop their commercial businesses including strategy, finance, raising money, marketing, sales, public relations, social media, pitching, and the business plan

Jewellery designer and goldsmith Rebecca Higgins Atkinson, said the course had given her the space needed to discover the next steps of her business journey. 

‘As a mother of six it might be easier to put my passion and skills to one side but the lure of creating will always be there. 

‘The result of participating in this course has given me the confidence to build and grow my existing business and look to new markets which is incredibly exciting. Having the support of the other women and the Local Enterprise Office is fantastic and has been a really important part of this journey also.’

Also among the participants was Dolores Cummins, international business coach and change management consultant.

She said:‘As a business coach and trainer I know that learning never stops so when I returned back from living in Australia I looked to the LEO for support as I set out anew. The course has given me the ability to discover new ways to reach my target audience and fully utilise my expertise for driving change in companies on a local and national level in Ireland.’

Christine Heffernan, Local Enterprise Office Cork North and West said they were ‘fully committed to the promotion of women in business.’

‘This course has become one of our most subscribed to over the past number of years. Each of these women has looked at ways of growing and diversifying their businesses which will in turn make them more competitive and will allow them to grow and create employment in the months and years ahead.’