High-potential start-up companies could create 2,000 jobs, claims Bruton

Enterprise Ireland’s high-potential start-up companies could create nearly 2,000 jobs over the next three years, according to Enterprise and Jobs Minister Richard Bruton.

The results of last year’s Enterprise Ireland’s high-potential start-up programme revealed that 122 companies are planning on creating 1,850 new jobs in the coming years. The programme continues to attract new companies, with a total of 103 high-potential start-up companies, the highest number ever, receiving investments last year.

Mr Bruton said that he was encouraged by the fact that 41 of the latest high-potential start-ups were led by women and that overseas entrepreneurs are now locating to Ireland to start their companies.

“The results published today show that the high-potential start-ups programme goes from strength to strength, with more companies, more overseas companies, more female-led companies, and more jobs than previous years.

“Enterprise Ireland deserve real credit for these achievements. I wish each of these companies every success for the future, I commend them on their achievements, and I look forward to seeing them grow into world-class companies of scale, creating the jobs we need,” he said.

One of the key aims of the government’s Action Plan for Jobs is to create an indigenous ecosystem of companies that will exists alongside the world-leading multinational companies that have located to Ireland.

Enterprise Ireland head of high-potential start-ups and scaling, Lisa Vaughan, said that these companies will play a major role in job creation in the country.

“All the companies here today have the potential to grow rapidly and become significant exporters.

“These companies play a really significant part in stimulating local economies and employment.

“The push now must be to help these young companies realise their full potential to achieve significant scale and become major international businesses in markets across the globe.”