This year’s Local Enterprise Village at the National Ploughing Championships will be home to 50 businesses started by women and the Local Enterprise Offices are encouraging more women to consider starting their own business in the sector.
The National Ploughing Championships, taking place from September 20th to 22nd, have become Europe’s largest outdoor event with 281,000 visitors last year. To help small businesses and start-ups make an impact on the rural economy, Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in the local authorities network are introducing a new product launch and demonstration area within the Local Enterprise Village for 2016.
Of the 84 companies that will be showcasing their products and services, with the support of the LEOs in every county and city, approximately 50 of them were founded or co-founded by female entrepreneurs.
The female entrepreneurs inside the Local Enterprise Village operate within a wide range of business categories, across food, drink, skincare, children’s toys, books, jewellery, fashion and giftware. Services for the agri-sector are also represented, such as soil, milk and water testing, manufacturing of sprayer attachments and genetic identification services.
Marcella Rudden with the Local Enterprise Offices said: “There are lots of growth opportunities in the agri-business sector and in the rural economy generally, for both business-to-consumer and business-to-business companies. For example, small businesses inside the Local Enterprise Village generated sales and orders worth nearly €645,000 last year. Following in the footsteps of the 50 businesses in the Local Enterprise Village that were either founded or co-founded by women, we’re encouraging more aspiring female entrepreneurs to start their own business in this sector and to seek out the supports that are available to them through Local Enterprise Offices in the local authorities network.”
The plans for the Local Enterprise Village were announced over the summer by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D., the Local Enterprise Offices, Enterprise Ireland, the Local Government Management Agency and the National Ploughing Association.
More details around the Local Enterprise Village are available through www.localenterprise.ie and by searching #localenterprise on social media. The 85th Annual National Ploughing Championships run over three days from September 20th to 22nd in Tullamore, Co. Offaly and tickets are on sale HERE
Category: 2016 Archive
Top Oil Fuel Championships
As the start of over 25Km of trakway is currently being laid for this year’s National Ploughing Championships site in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly. NPA are delighted to once again be partnering with Top Oil as the official fuel sponsor. Highlighting this successful pairing, over 100 8ft x 4ft billboards have been erected at strategic locations throughout the country advertising the event which takes place from September 20th to 22nd.
On site recently, Managing Director of the NPA, Ms Anna May McHugh, along with Top Oil representatives and the Top Oil Mascot said how she looked forward to working very closely with Top Oil in the run up to the championships and offered “I am delighted that Top Oil have come on board again this year as sponsorship partners of the event. Top Oil are a very well-known brand throughout Ireland and are instantly recognisable throughout the rural community”.
Last year’s National Ploughing Championships was attended by 281,000 and this year promises to be even better with over 1,500 diverse and exciting exhibitors booked in
85th NPC drives ahead
As the first of over 25 kilometres of trakway for the 85th National Ploughing Championships is currently being laid to transform a green field in Offaly into the bustling hub that will become this year’s event. The NPA are delighted to welcome back Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as the official motoring partner; this is the sixth year in a row of this successful partnership.
Alan Bateson, Managing Director, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland said “We are delighted to be returning for our 6th year in 2016 as official Vehicle partner of the National Ploughing Championships. This year we will supply a range of 4 Motion Transporter Generation 6 Vans and Amarok Pick Ups which have proven to be so popular with the agricultural community in Ireland. We will also launch our new Amarok V6 at this year’s championships, this new vehicle which sets the benchmark against all other competitors in Ireland and which will be the only V6 offering in this segment, with a class leading 221bhp and a best in class 550Nm of torque we know it is sure to attract huge interest.
“The National Ploughing Championships showcases the Best of Irish Food, Farming and Culture and this partnership matches our brand values of being the best Commercial Vehicle manufacturer in the Irish Market.”
The National Ploughing Association Managing Director Anna May McHugh said ‘The Volkswagen fleet of vehicles provided for Ploughing will prove to be a huge addition for the off-road preparations and site works that will take place on upwards of 800 acres, and during the event week they will provide a vital link between exhibition, competitions, demonstrations and car parks.”
Celebrating the 85th year of the National Ploughing Association, this year’s programme is action packed with exciting activities and events throughout the three days in Screggan, Tullamore from September 20th – 22nd. Over 1,500 exhibitors have booked their spot at the event showcasing cattle, sheep, and a huge range of goods from tractors and agricultural machinery to cars, fashion, forestry, innovations, house and home, health, lifestyle, leisure and plenty of entertainment, retail therapy and food stalls.
Tickets are now available online HERE or by phoning 059 8625125. Special student and group rates apply to pre-event orders and don’t forget children under 12 are free.
90% Stand Space Booked!
A FIRST FOR PLOUGHING – OVER 90% OF STAND SPACE BOOKED BEFORE END OF MAY
NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “Due to unprecedented demand bookings for this year’s Ploughing Championships are up almost 30% on this time last year. We are delighted that so many have already committed to Ploughing because that is a real seal of approval for the event. It is the primary aim of the NPA to make the event better every year for visitors and exhibitors alike and early bookings gives us much more design time.”
This year the core agricultural machinery companies, as always will be the anchor exhibitors of the championships showcasing hundreds of thousands of euros worth of the latest technology. The NPA are also at the planning stage of a few new initiatives in the machinery sector of the event which will add an interesting dimension together with a range of new exhibitors featuring in Screggan this September creating a thrilling mix for visitors.
With record crowds of 281,000 visitors in attendance last year and excitement building already about this year’s new venue, signals would suggest another “great ploughing” is on the way.
The Livestock Arena, Food and Lifestyle Villages are almost fully booked with the huge “dome” back again featuring over 100 exhibitors. The motor arena will be significantly bigger following hugely positive feedback in this sector last year.
All of the firm favourite traditional attractions are set to return this year such as Meggers, Sheep Shearing, Hunt Chase, Pony Games, Live Music and Dancing, Vintage Ploughing, Threshing, Sheep Dog Trials and Loy Digging.
In the ploughing stakes a particularly strong programme has attracted entries from all around the country and Northern Ireland bringing the number preparing to plough in Offaly over 300 for the 3 days.