Local Enterprise Office

Name

Local Enterprise Office

Legal name

Local Enterprise Office

Website

https://localenterprise.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Support Services

NAICS

Public Finance Activities (92113), Business Service Centers (56143)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Small business support
• SME advisory services
• Business grants
• Entrepreneur mentoring
• Government SME funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Monaghan

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Funded through Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment via Enterprise Ireland under a Service Level Agreement with local authorities. Provides free support services (grants, training, mentoring) to eligible SMEs rather than generating commercial revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Local Enterprise Office is Ireland's nationwide network of 31 government-run business support offices that provide free financial supports (Feasibility, Priming, Business Expansion, Market Explorer, and Energy Efficiency grants, plus microfinance loans), consultancy programmes (Green for Business, Lean for Business, Digital for Business), mentoring, and training programmes to small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs across Ireland. All services are delivered face-to-face through local offices under a Service Level Agreement with Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Product overview

The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) is Ireland's network of 31 local government offices providing comprehensive business support services to small and medium enterprises. The organization offers a multi-layered portfolio of financial supports (grants including Feasibility, Priming, Business Expansion, Market Explorer, and Microfinance Loans), operational programmes (Green for Business, GreenStart, Energy Efficiency Grant, Lean for Business, Digital for Business), and training initiatives (Start Your Own Business, Accelerate Management Development, Food Academy, Sustainability Workshops). Additionally, LEO runs enterprise culture programmes including Student Enterprise Awards, National Enterprise Awards, National Women's Enterprise Day, Local Enterprise Week, and the Kilkenny Design Makers Academy. The organization partners with Enterprise Ireland, Google, and other agencies to deliver specialized programmes like AI Works for Ireland. The overall structure functions as a unified service platform offering advisory, financial, and capacity-building services across the entire business lifecycle from startup through expansion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AI Works for Ireland: AI training initiative launched in partnership with Google Ireland providing up to 10,000 AI scholarships through Coursera and face-to-face regional training events.
• Local Enterprise Week
• Student Enterprise Programme
• National Enterprise Awards
• National Women's Enterprise Day
• All in A Day's Work
• Green for Business
• Food Academy
• Kilkenny Design Makers Academy

Products and services

• Financial Supports Suite of financial supports for small businesses including Feasibility Study Grants, Priming Grants, Business Expansion Grants, Market Explorer Grant, Research Development and Innovation Supports, Microfinance Loans, and GradStart funding
• Green for Business Support Free consultancy programme providing up to two days of expert consultancy with a Green Consultant who identifies practical, impactful sustainability changes for small businesses with 1-50 employees
• GreenStart Grant for training/consultancy/advisory project of up to 7 days carried out by external Green Service Provider aimed at improving environmental performance of micro and small enterprises in manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors
• Energy Efficiency Grant Grant supporting investment in energy-efficient technologies and equipment following a Green for Business Report, GreenStart Report or SEAI Energy Audit, covering 75% of eligible costs from €750 to €10,000 maximum
• Lean for Business Programme providing in-depth consultation and continued support from a Lean expert with tailored plans for businesses to reduce costs and become more productive
• Digital for Business Consultation with digital experts to help businesses embrace technology and future-proof operations, including personalized digital roadmaps
• Start Your Own Business Programme Training programme designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs start and run their own business
• Accelerate Management Development Programme Management development programme designed to accelerate business growth and leadership capabilities
• Food Academy Programme Programme supporting food producers to grow their businesses through training and retail readiness development
• Sustainability Kickstarter Workshops Workshops helping businesses develop sustainability practices and environmental responsibility
• Student Enterprise Programme Ireland's largest student enterprise programme with over 26,000 second level students participating annually, running September to May where students set up and run their own business
• Mentoring Access to experienced mentors who provide business guidance and expertise to support business development
• Enterprise Europe Network Network providing international business support and cross-border collaboration opportunities for SMEs
• Get Exporting Support programme helping businesses develop export capabilities and access international markets
• Market Explorer Grant Grant supporting businesses to explore new market opportunities and conduct market research
• GradStart Support scheme for recent graduates to gain experience in high-potential companies
• Microfinance Loans Microfinance lending solutions for small businesses that may not qualify for traditional bank financing, provided through partnership with Microfinance Ireland
• Feasibility Grant Grant supporting businesses to conduct feasibility studies and assess viability of new business ideas or projects
• Priming Grant Grant for new startup businesses in their early stages of development
• Business Expansion Grant Grant supporting established businesses to expand operations and create additional employment
• Research, Development and Innovation Support Financial and advisory support for businesses engaged in research, development, and innovation activities
• National Enterprise Hub Centralized hub providing access to national enterprise resources and supports for small businesses
• AI Works for Ireland Nationwide initiative launched in partnership with Google Ireland, providing up to 10,000 AI scholarships through Coursera and face-to-face regional training events across Dublin, Galway, Cork, and Monaghan, designed to address the confidence and capability gap preventing Irish SMEs from adopting AI technologies
• Kilkenny Design Makers Academy National initiative developed in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and Kilkenny Design helping local makers and designers scale from creative talent to commercial success through mentoring and retail insights

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,261 new jobs created by clients in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Enterprise IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnterprise Ireland operates under a Service Level Agreement with Local Enterprise Offices, providing strategic oversight, funding coordination, and pathways for scaling businesses. LEOs create progression routes to Enterprise Ireland for high-growth companies.
• Google IrelandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership on AI Works for Ireland initiative providing up to 10,000 AI scholarships through Coursera and face-to-face regional training events across Dublin, Galway, Cork, and Monaghan. Aligns with Ireland's National Digital and AI Strategy.
• Amárach ResearchminorOthersConducts research on Irish SME adoption of AI and entrepreneurship trends, informing LEO program development.
• CourseracoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline learning platform partner for AI Works for Ireland, delivering up to 10,000 AI scholarships to Irish SMEs.
• Enterprise NationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK/Ireland business support organization partnering on Amazon Bootcamp and other startup support programs.
• AmazonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmazon, Enterprise Ireland, Enterprise Nation and Local Enterprise Offices partnership delivering Amazon Bootcamp for clients.
• Kilkenny DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Kilkenny Design Makers Academy, providing retail pathway and mentoring for creative entrepreneurs.
• Skillnets IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate Ready Academy offers specialized training for businesses in climate action, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility.
• Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEAI provides Energy Academy e-learning and Energy Audit support that feeds into LEO's Energy Efficiency Grant and Green for Business programs.
• Údarás na GaeltachtaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional development agency for Gaeltacht areas, coordinating with LEOs on business supports in Irish-speaking regions.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Enterprise Ireland: LEO's parent agency under the same Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, providing the natural progression pathway for LEO-supported SMEs into scaling and export support. Operates the Service Level Agreement that funds LEO.
• Microfinance Ireland: Government-backed micro-lender for SMEs that cannot access mainstream finance, with LEOs acting as referral and application-processing partners. Directly comparable public-sector SME credit intervention.
• Chambers of Commerce Ireland: National network of local chambers providing SME advocacy, training, networking, and policy representation. Overlaps LEO on training, events, and local SME support across Irish counties.
• ISME (Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association): Ireland's leading SME representative body, lobbying on behalf of small businesses and providing advisory, training, and HR support. Serves the same SME client base as LEO from a private/advocacy angle.
• Small Firms Association (SFA) Ireland: Ibec-affiliated association representing small firms in Ireland, offering training, advisory, and lobbying services to SMEs with under 50 employees - the same micro/small enterprise segment LEO targets.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): U.S. federal agency providing grants, loans, training, and advisory to small businesses through a nationwide field office network. The closest international analogue to LEO's mandate and operating model.
• BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada): Canadian Crown corporation providing financing, advisory, and growth capital to SMEs, with a national branch network. Comparable mix of lending, advisory, and training delivered to small businesses.
• Scottish Enterprise: Scotland's national economic development agency, providing grants, advisory, and innovation support to SMEs through a regional office model. Direct structural peer for sub-national public-sector SME support.
• Business Wales: Welsh Government service providing free business support, grants, training, and mentoring to SMEs across Wales. Operates a regional delivery model directly comparable to LEO's 31 local offices.

Broad incumbents

• Innovate UK: UKRI's innovation and R&D funding arm providing grants and support to innovative businesses, overlapping with LEO's Research, Development and Innovation support and Enterprise Ireland-style scale-up funding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LEOwexford
• Facebookfacebook.com/LocalEnterpriseOfficeWexford
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/local-enterprise-offices

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments8 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Local Enterprise Office