Small and micro firms to be warned of cyber risks facing businesses 

Cybersecurity webinar will be one of many to take place over Local Enterprise Week 2024 

The five-day event will also emphasise the importance of cybersecurity, with a webinar being hosted by cyber skills lecturer at Munster Technological University Gillian O'Carroll.

Cork City Council's Local Enterprise Office has teamed up with the Crann Centre to raise awareness of self-employment for people with disabilities.  

The programme is aimed at small and micro businesses across Cork and will hear from several people with disabilities who have successfully set up their own company. 

The five-day event, which will take place from the 4th to the 8th of March will also emphasise the importance of cybersecurity, with a webinar being hosted by cyber skills lecturer at Munster Technological University Gillian O'Carroll.

"Our mission is to improve Ireland’s cybersecurity skills and this is especially important for small and micro enterprises," said Ms O'Carroll. "Regardless of the size of your business, cybersecurity is a fundamental business risk that deserves attention."

Other online webinars throughout the week will offer online business advice clinics in which advisors will provide one-to-one consultations and guidance that may support the growth of a new start-up or an established and growing small business, as well as one looking at trading online vouchers.

There will also be a talk on how to plan for export success and a special networking event ahead of International Women’s Day called Swimming Beyond Boundaries.

Those interested in the impact of climate change and rising energy costs can attend online Green Advice Clinics on the closing day of the week while the week will close out with an event called Resilience for Business Success.

"It’s a very exciting week, we run as many events as possible to cater for as many types of businesses as possible, in various stages of development," Dr Niall O’Keeffe, Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office, Cork City.

"Local Enterprise Office focuses on small/micro enterprises from pre-start-up to start-ups and growing so we have to cater for the needs and demands of the changing market for businesses of that size."