Resilient small businesses are hailed

The creation of 628 new jobs by small businesses across Cork in 2021 has been described as “hugely positive news”.

Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central Colm Burke welcomed the latest figures from local enterprise offices (LEOs) which showed that LEO-supported companies created 7,440 jobs in Ireland in 2021, 85 per cent of which were outside of Dublin.

Deputy Burke said this highlights the determination and hard work of business owners and workers across the county during what has been a very difficult year.

He said: “I want to pay tribute to these Cork businesses which have persevered through some of the most difficult times and continued to provide jobs and contribute to our local economy and community.

“With a total of 644 clients, the LEOs in Cork provide vital support to many of our local businesses, offering advice, mentoring and training, and providing much needed financial backing with programmes such as the Trading Online Voucher, Lean for Micro and Green for Micro.”

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar said 35,000 people employed in small businesses around the country have been helped in some way by our LEOS.

“They are at the heart of communities in every county, and have proved invaluable throughout the pandemic.”