Bank of Ireland investing €1.7million in Communities Nationwide

Paschal Donohoe TD, Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform officially launches Bank of Ireland Enterprise Programme 2018

Pictured are local business owner Angela Ruttledge, co-owner of Woodstock and Board Member of award winning community arts festival, Phizzfest, with Paschal Donohoe TD, Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform alongside Gavin Kelly, CEO, Retail Ireland, Bank of Ireland, outside local community bike shop, Rothar in Phibsborough, Dublin 7.

11 June 2018 – Bank of Ireland is investing €1.7 million in communities nationwide through its National Enterprise Programme for 2018. The programme, which aims to promote financial wellness and SME growth, supports businesses and communities across Ireland to grow and will culminate with the National Enterprise Town Awards night, taking place in November, which will reward towns, city villages or urban areas which are driving enterprise in their locality. The €1.7 million programme was officially launched today by Paschal Donohoe TD, Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform alongside Gavin Kelly, CEO, Retail Ireland, Bank of Ireland.

This year’s Enterprise Programme of activity, which started in early 2018, aims to assist in the promotion of enterprise across the country, by bringing business and community groups together through initiatives such as Enterprise Town, Enterprise Communities and National Enterprise Week.

Working with local authorities and their Local Enterprise Offices, local business groups and communities nationwide, the Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town Awards 2018 will aim to find the most enterprising town / city village / urban area in Ireland. The towns/ city villages / urban areas will showcase the spirit of enterprise to a panel of judges between August and October of this year. With a total cash prize fund of €157,000, the overall national winner receives a total cash prize of €33,000 to invest into their locality.

Paschal Donohoe TD, Minister for Finance & Public Expenditure and Reform said:

“The Government recognises that the wellbeing of our SMEs is integrally linked to the overall wellbeing of our economy and our communities. This initiative by Bank of Ireland aims to foster enhanced cooperation between business and their localities in a way that is mutually beneficial. I very much welcome initiatives like Bank of Ireland’s National Enterprise Programme, which provides support and recognition for this very important sector of the Irish economy. Awards in the tens of thousands of euro offer a great incentive for those with an enterprising and community minded spirit. I wish all entrants the very best of luck in their endeavours.”

Gavin Kelly, CEO Retail Ireland, Bank of Ireland said:

“At Bank of Ireland, our purpose is to enable our customers and communities to thrive and our Enterprise Programme is an important part of how we deliver on this. In addition to a significant monetary investment of €1.7 million for 2018, a huge amount of work is done to create a programme of activity that supports the evolving needs of SMEs and community groups and has a positive impact on local economies right across the country.

“We are delighted to be running our National Enterprise Town Awards for the second year and we are particularly grateful to the many local authorities throughout Ireland who are assisting in the nomination of towns / city villages / urban areas. These Awards are a fantastic platform to recognize and reward the incredible spirit of enterprise that we are seeing across Ireland and I am really looking forward to seeing this year’s entries.”

For more information about the Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town Awards 2018 visit www.thinkbusiness.ie.