All companies should now be preparing for a worst possible Brexit scenario, Business Minister Heather Humphreys has warned.

A Government pledge for a new start in the way it treats Irish small firms has been welcomed by business groups as it prepares to unveil in the autumn a new policy for SMEs under the auspices of the OECD.

A parasite test kit for cattle, and a better girth for horses, are winners in the 38th year of Enterprise Ireland’s Student Entrepreneur Awards.

Students from Boherbue Comprehensive School in Mallow, North Cork, strode away with the top award in the Student Enterprise Programme.

Local Enterprise Offices have supported the creation of 18,640 jobs in their first five years.

Four female entrepreneurs share the secret of their success to mark National Women’s Enterprise Day, which aims to help women in business to take their ideas global, writes Helen O’Callaghan

County councillors are to ask the heads of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to visit North-West Cork in a push to have more industries located there after a factory closure in Kanturk.

The annual awards of the IGNITE business start-up programme that supports third level graduates take place on Thursday at University College Cork. Pádraig Hoare spoke to director of the programme, Eamon Curtin.

Microfinance Ireland, the State-backed SME lending vehicle, has announced a 1% cut in the interest rates it charges borrowers.

They are both workaholics, have two children each and, spookily, turned vegetarian on the same day even though they were on opposite ends of the planet.

Up to €2m will be invested in about 100 indigenous food businesses in Cork over the next three years as part of an ambitious joint city and county council strategy that aims to make the region the food capital of Ireland.

Ten thousand people are expected to attend a two-day food forum which will showcase cooking demonstrations as well as provide a platform to promote offerings from Cork and Kerry-based producers.

Ten Cork-based artisan food and drink producers have generated an estimated €1m in sales leads at the Food and Drink Expo 2016 at the NEC Birmingham, England.

A teenager who found a way of stopping his earphones from falling to the ground, and tripping him up, has won the top Student Enterprise Award.

From crowdfunding, bank loans and venture capital to feasibility funds and innovation vouchers, there seems to be an abundance of options for startups and business owners.

Cork County Council has helped create 240 jobs in the past 17 months through its work with Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs).

Budding entrepreneurs behind a number of gadget and gizmo businesses are being given expert advice on how to grow their enterprises.

A scheme that plans to pump €10m into county-level start-ups aims to provide funds for locals to create local jobs.

Cost pressures, skills shortages and a potential ‘Brexit’ are among the chief risks Irish exporters currently face, according to the head of their representative body.

It’s a good year for start-ups and John Daly hears there is plenty of help on hand for those looking to take advantage.

A 28-year-old from Dublin has been named Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur for his new parcel tracking company.

More than 300 secondary school students will be hoping their entrepreneurial ideas will take off as Cork Airport hosts the tenth annual mini company Christmas Trade Fair.

150 jobs are to be created in food businesses.

Welcome to your Friday morning briefing. Let us ensure you’re up to speed on what’s happening and are prepared for the day ahead.

Take one celebrity chef, several local food producers, a handful of food start-ups, add a sprinkling of major retailers and the public to taste — and mix.