An interactive digital platform aimed at supporting new entrepreneurs and start-ups in Dublin has been developed for the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Dublin City by participants in training with Digital Skills Academy, an international provider of digital training programmes, based in Ireland. The LEO platform is designed to take emerging business talent on a step-by-step business development journey, directing users to relevant supports, expertise and advice at each business development milestone – from ideation to kick-off and business growth.
This innovative online platform is a result of an industry partnership between Dublin City Council and Digital Skills Academy. As part of the partnership, an international and cross-functional team of six participants on one of Digital Skills Academy’s International BSc Degree programmes worked remotely from different countries, including Spain, India and Ireland, over a period of four months to create this online tool for entrepreneurs and start-ups in Dublin.
LEO Dublin City plays a key role in the enterprise ecosystem in Dublin by providing financial grants and loan assistance, mentoring and networking opportunities as well as training to more than 1,000 entrepreneurs and existing micro-enterprise and small business owners in Dublin city every year.
The new platform aims to streamline the number of calls to LEO Dublin City, increase the flow of users to its website, and grow subscribers to LEO’s ‘Start Your Own Business’ training and mentoring courses. It will be launched by LEO Dublin City in March 2018, and there are plans to implement the same type of platform across other councils.
Deputy Head of Enterprise and Economic Development with Dublin City Council, Mary Mac Sweeney commented: “We are very conscious of the growing demand for enhanced communication and service provision in the digital space as all start-ups, from food businesses to creative industries, become increasingly digitised. Given this trajectory, we were very keen to develop a highly responsive and scalable digital platform to offer business development to our clients.”
Pictured above: Mary Mac Sweeney, Deputy Head of Economic Development and Enterprise at Dublin City Council; Paul Dunne, CEO and Founder of Digital Skills Academy.
