Enterprise Board moving to Civic Offices ahead of transition to new Local Enterprise Office
The Tipperary North county Enterprise Board will relocate to a stand alone unit in the Civic Offices Nenagh later this week and will open to the public from Monday 7 April. The move is in preparation for the establishment the new Local Enterprise Office which will be in place by 15 April. The LEO structure promises more funding, more services, and more staff in a new improved system to support local enterprise.
Key features of the new Local Enterprise Office (LEO) system nationally will include additional funding of €3.5million in 2014, 170 dedicated staff across the LEOs system, supplemented by a new Graduate Recruitment Programme in addition to the assignment of 40 Local Authority staff across the Country. The LEO system will combine new supports with business services currently delivered by CEBs and those delivered by Local Authorities in a “first-stop shop” located in Local Authority offices, under an overall framework set by Minister for Jobs and Enterprise Ireland. Each LEO, embedded in a local authority, will develop a local plan for boosting enterprise, with targets including new business start-ups, business expansions and jobs created or sustained as well as wider economic impacts such as exports, mentoring, training and enterprise promotion.
The establishment of the 31 Local Enterprise offices represents a fundamental reform of local government so that services are delivered and decisions made at local level. The date for dissolution of the network of County and City Enterprise Boards has been set by the Minister for Tuesday 15th April 2014. The LEO will come into place on the same day and will be formally launched by the Taoiseach on 17 April. A new Centre of Excellence has been established in Enterprise Ireland to manage budgets, and policy matters, a new national brand has been developed, advertisements placed in local media inviting membership of a new grants Evaluation/ Approvals committee, a new website is ready for launch and customer service desks are being set up in Local Authorities in anticipation of the roll out of the new and enhanced services.
The staff of the Tipperary North County Enterprise Board are making every effort to minimise disruption and reassure their customers that during this process they will continue to deliver the full range of enterprise supports except for 2 days- Thursday 3 and Friday 4 April when their offices will close to the public to facilitate the move. Speaking to the Press, Rita Guinan, CEO said that “the Board is working closely with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authority to effect the proposed changes and to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements which will offer small businesses supports needed for start up, development and growth”
If you have a query or concern pertaining to the imminent transfer of functions or relocation, please do not hesitate in contacting the Offices of the Tipperary North County Enterprise Board on 067-33086 or by email to info@tnceb.ie. While the Local Enterprise Office for Tipperary will be headquartered in Ballingarrane House, Ballingarrane Science and Technology Park, Clonmel, the level of service to customers in the north of the County will be maintained, enhanced and fully accessible at Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
