A small business from Wicklow could be one of 31 who get a chance to exhibit as part of this year’s Local Enterprise Village at the Ploughing Championships in Tullamore in September.

The largest outdoor event in Europe will see over 250,000 visitors across the three days from Tuesday 15th to Thursday 17th September. The Local Enterprise Village, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, will house small businesses from every sector and from across the country and they are opening applications for businesses to get involved.

Small businesses are being asked to enquire with Local Enterprise Office Wicklow about eligibility to take part and can contact them through email at enterprise@leo.wicklowcoco.ie.

The selected business will get the opportunity to exhibit at the event for the full three days and will be fully trained by the Local Enterprise Office team in merchandising, sales and marketing to help maximize their participation at the event.

Year on year the Local Enterprise Village proves to be one of the most popular destinations and is located right in the heart of the Ploughing Championships.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr. Melanie Corrigan said, “It is fantastic to see this opportunity being made available to Wicklow businesses on such a prestigious national stage. The Ploughing Championships are not only about tradition and community, but also about opportunity and growth. This initiative gives a local business the chance to showcase what Wicklow has to offer, and I would strongly encourage businesses across the county to apply and take advantage of this unique platform.”

Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Emer O’Gorman commented, “Wicklow’s small businesses continue to demonstrate strong ambition and innovation, and this opportunity offers a valuable platform to showcase that on a national stage. The Local Enterprise Village provides a unique chance to connect with a large audience, build brand awareness and drive growth. We encourage eligible businesses to apply and look forward to supporting the successful applicant in preparing for this significant event.”

The Local Enterprise Village is just one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.

Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception ten years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 35,000 jobs across the country.

The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice and financial supports to small businesses. For more information please contact enterprise@leo.wicklowcoco.ie