Entrepreneurs LookWest to Roscommon

Survey shows over 400 new businesses in Western Region since start of 2008, with 3,000 people showcasing their skills to employers in the Western Region.

The Western Development Commission (WDC), in partnership with city and county councils from across the Western Region, has launched a major new initiative to attract enterprises to the West of Ireland. This seven-week advertising and publicity campaign will build on the work of LookWest.ie to promote the Western Region to enterprises and individuals. 

The campaign kicks off today (May 19th) with a special focus on County Roscommon in partnership with Roscommon County Council.  For seven weeks, the campaign will focus on a different Western Local Authority area each week, with advertising and publicity targeting business owners in the Greater Dublin Area, the rest of the country and the Irish communities abroad.  The campaign will also encourage Roscommon people to promote the county to friends and family who live away.  The Roscommon business featuring in the advertising is BioClin, a company established in 2003 by former Elan employees, and now employing 20 people.  BioClin supplies pharmaceuticals to over 50 pharmaceutical and drug delivery companies in Ireland, England and the USA.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign in Dublin which was attended by Éamon Ó Cuív TD, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Gillian Buckley, CEO of the WDC, said, “The focus of the LookWest.ie campaign this year is on enterprise and entrepreneurs by highlighting some of the many successful companies who have decided to locate in the region, attracted by the availability of a highly skilled workforce and a truly attractive business environment.

“Based on the recent research undertaken for us by Red C we know that that 41% of people under 35 who live on or around the eastern seaboard would like to move to the Western Region.  From the business side, research has shown that 67% of businesses questioned thought that the Western Region offered an excellent business base.  In response, the number of people registering their skills on our LookWest.ie website is up while over 170 actual or potential entrepreneurs have used the LookWest.ie website to express a desire to set up in the region. The combination of both skilled workers and entrepreneurs wanting to live, work and do business in the Western Region creates an amazing opportunity for us.  Our next step is to convince those people to take the next step and to make that move!”

Commenting at the launch, Minister Ó Cuív said “The LookWest campaign has proven to be a great success in highlighting the benefits for both employers and employees in moving to the Western Region.  The Bank of Ireland Business Banking figures that were just published show over 400 new businesses have set up in the region since the beginning of the year. This is testament to the vibrancy of the region, in particular the growing number of ‘knowledge’ companies, with worldwide ambitions, that are choosing to base themselves in Ireland’s Western Region.”

Roscommon County Manager John Tiernan said, “Roscommon is an attractive choice because of its central location, its first class infrastructure, the availability of tailored financial packages and aid to potential investors, quality educational standards, a young population and an idyllic environment for work life balance.  We are delighted to work with the WDC to promote Roscommon and its unique attractiveness as a location of choice for investment, and we look forward to working with and supporting new enterprise and investment in the county.”

According to Ian Brannigan, Development Manager at the WDC, the LookWest.ie website, which is now in its third year, has seen a big increase in the number of people using it as a resource to help them plan their move to the Western Region; the number of visits grew by 53% between 2006 and 2007. He said, “I am delighted this year that so many of our partners are supporting us in jointly promoting the region for business. If we can attract more businesses we can create more jobs and attract more people to the region. Already 3,000 have registered on LookWest.ie, the vast majority who are highly qualified young people.  They want the quality of life that only the Western Region can offer and in return they are offering employers their education and their skills. Where else could an employer find a more willing workforce?” 

“The 2008 LookWest.ie advertising will highlight seven indigenous Irish companies, from SMEs to multinationals, which between them over 50 years of business success and already employ over 600 people. Their example shows that new and expanding companies in sectors like medical devices, pharmaceuticals, design-led manufacturing, and technology can start and thrive in the Western Region. And at the same time, business owners and their employees can enjoy the West of Ireland quality of life.  Our findings show that more and more businesses rate the Western Region as having a superior work life balance.  This is critical in attracting and retaining top quality individuals for innovative businesses.”

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