The Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) are the first stop shop for any small business looking to start or grow across the country. The vision for the Local Enterprise Office is to develop and sustain a positive enterprise ecosystem at local level throughout the country that will drive new added-value start-ups, facilitate further growth of micro and small businesses and enhance local economies.
The Business Advisor position supports the delivery of an integrated range of actions and programmes to increase the number of first-time exporters, assist small businesses to innovate, embrace digital transformation and adopt more environmentally friendly practices.
This is a key role that will require the successful candidate to work directly with core LEO clients to improve the management of business processes, introduce innovation that will impact results, enhance performance and assist start-ups and small businesses across the country to grow and create employment.
The LEO Business Advisor will perform such duties as may be assigned from time to time which will involve the facilitation, implementation and promotion of the policies and objectives of the particular Kilkenny County Council for the advancement of the Local Enterprise office.
The Business Advisor will report to the Senior Enterprise Development Officer, or any other Officer as designated by the Chief Executive.
Such duties include inter alia:
Working with LEO clients, offering general business advise and supporting businesses on a one-to-one basis through the grant application and drawdown process and management of Enterprise Ireland reporting requirements and grant administration
Management of the delivery of initiatives designed to support microenterprises to increase performance and competitiveness including programmes such as Digital Transformation and Green which will help to build resilience and in keeping with all public procurement guidelines.
Support the delivery of initiatives that will help LEO clients with their exporting activities and work in collaboration to ensure clients are directed and can have access to the most appropriate support as it pertains to their stage of export.
Administration of the delivery of new and existing training and management development programmes in response to the needs of small businesses including assisting the preparation of programme specifications, processing of tenders/quotes, client recruitment and engagement, ensuring the recording of all outputs and deliverables within the allocated budgets.
Managing LEOs external contractors and ensuring best practice in the delivery of LEO services (e.g. mentoring support programme).
Such other duties as the Head of the Local Enterprise Office may assign to the role to promote the objectives of the office.
Ensure compliance with all required local authority financial, management and governance reporting requirements.
Collect, maintain and update relevant data.
The above specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.