Wexford County Enterprise Board supports €6m in extra salaries in 2013

Wexford County Enterprise Board-supported firms pumped an estimated €6m extra in wages into the local economy in 2013 through an increase in 145 jobs on the 2012 figures.

The importance of the enterprise board to the locality has been highlighted with the announcement of Wexford County Enterprise Board’s end of year results for 2013.

A value of €6 million has been put on the net gain of 145 jobs created by companies backed by Wexford County Enterprise Board (CEB) in County Wexford during 2013.

A total of 1,331 full time jobs, were in place in Wexford CEB supported companies, at the end of 2013 up from 1,186 jobs in 2012. This sees job creation and retention on the recovery path from a downward trend in recent years.

“These jobs have been created as a result of direct financial assistance provided by Wexford CEB and represent 331 companies that we currently work with,” says Tom Banville, Chief Executive Officer of Wexford County Enterprise Board.

Direct financial assistance is available to companies who manufacture with export potential or provide internationally traded services. Businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs also benefit from training and mentoring.

Speaking about the end of year results, Mr Banville noted “the people of County Wexford have shown an enterprising spirit during 2013 with many people wanting to make a difference by either creating employment for themselves or others – 143 people attended 10 Start Your Own Business courses held in Wexford, Gorey, Enniscorthy and New Ross in 2013.”

Wexford has the sixth highest training participant rates on city and county enterprise board programmes nationwide.

Wexford receives the highest allocation of enterprise board grant aid in the south east and is in fifth place nationwide.

In 2013 Wexford CEB hosted 79 business development training courses and workshops, networking events and other programmes to assist with the development and establishment of enterprises in County Wexford. These events were attended by 1,021 entrepreneurs, small business owners and their staff.

The mentor programme was again very popular with SMEs in the county with 179 mentor applications received in 2013 and 632 mentor meetings taking place between mentors and business owners.

“The Board will continue to work in partnership with various organisations in County Wexford to continue to support business start-ups, growth and jobs creation. It is important that enterprise development is embraced across a spectrum of organisations and that employment creation is kept as the main agenda item for 2014,” concluded Mr Banville.