Much of the employment in Co. Wexford is concentrated in small scale businesses – these enterprises are the main engine for job creation within the county.  WLD focuses on supporting new entrepreneurs, particularly those who have previously been unemployed, to develop their ideas and set up or expand their businesses.

Some of the enterprise supports that WLD provides as part of the Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme includes:

  • Moving from Welfare to Self-Employment Training, three day programmes run on a monthly basis in Wexford, Gorey, Enniscorthy and New Ross for unemployed people who are contemplating setting up a business. The programme familiarizes clients with the ‘ins and outs’ of setting up a business and the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance/Short Term Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA/STEA) and helps them to explore the potential risks and rewards of becoming self-employed.
  • One-to-one mentoring and business plan development support for clients seeking to access the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance and the Short Term Enterprise Allowance Schemes funded by the Department of Social Protection. WLD administers both schemes on behalf of the Department of Social Protection, supporting clients to develop a viable business plan and facilitating an evaluation committee which makes recommendations on applications.  The BTWEA financially supports individuals over a two year period which allows them to work on the development of their business and to become successful entrepreneurs.
  • Providing a range of enterprise aftercare supports including one-to-one mentoring, business skills training (including courses in book keeping and taxation) and information workshops to entrepreneurs that have been successful in establishing a business.

 

Social Enterprise:

There are currently over 1,400 social enterprises in Ireland, employing an estimated 33,000 people.  A Social Enterprise can be defined as any enterprise:

  • that trades for a social/society purpose,
  • where at least part of its income is earned from its trading activity,
  • that is separate from government,
  • where the surplus is primarily re-invested in the social objective.

There are a wide range of social enterprises operating in Ireland, including community enterprises and cooperatives and Wexford Local Development can assist you in the development of your social enterprise.  If you are interested in finding out more about developing a Social Enterprise, please contact Ann Dempsey, Enterprise Co-ordinator on 053 9155800.

Useful Links:

Eamonn Kelly
Employment & Enterprise Coordinator
Helena Dempsey
Social Enterprise Development Officer
Jarlath Judge
Enterprise Development Officer
Amanda Bennett
Training & Development Officer
Orlaith Rowe
Training & Development Officer