Agribusiness and food leaders named as Enterprise Champs
When Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Jobs Minister Richard Bruton launched a €40m competitive regional jobs fund last week, 20 business-people selected to lead the way included Abbey Farm Machinery MD Clodagh Cavanagh; Burren Fish Products MD Birgitte Curtin; Bord Bia member Rachel Doyle, Arboretum, Carlow; Glanbia South West CEO Colin Gordon; Lakeland Dairies CEO Michael Hanley; and Dairymaster CEO Ed Harty.
They have been asked to come up with innovative job-creation proposals and to promote collaboration as part of eight regional jobs plans with a 220,000 extra jobs target.
The aim is to bring the unemployment rate in every region within 1% of the average across the State.
To win funding, jobs project must involve collaboration from different players such as local authorities, education institutions, state agencies, and private sector bodies like Chambers of Commerce.
Minister Bruton said the fund will reward projects with the greatest capacity to create jobs. “I wish to pay tribute to the business leaders right across the country who have agreed to sit on the regional committees and drive the implementation of the plans in each area.
“The input of these experienced and successful industry leaders creates a real step-up in the level of innovation and jobs impact of this process.”
