Analysis: LEOs are a vital support for Ireland's business ecosystem, but a one-size-fits-all approach does not fully meet the needs of women entrepreneurs
Sarah* was optimistic when she first approached her Local Enterprise Office (LEO) for support. She had a well-developed idea for a service-based business and was seeking mentoring to launch her operation. But instead, she found a system prioritising high-growth, male-dominated industries. "There wasn’t anything sectoral-based I could tap into," she explained.
Sarah’s experience is not unique. Recent research on the experiences of women entrepreneurs engaging with the LEOs found many believe they face structural and cultural barriers, which affects how they benefit from LEO services. While support is available to all, the outcomes and impact can vary, pointing to a need for more tailored approaches.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Reignite, interview with various business founders who took advantage of supports from their Local Enterprise Offices
What do Local Enterprise Offices do?
LEOs play a vital role in Ireland’s enterprise landscape, acting as the first stop shop for entrepreneurs through 31 offices nationwide. They provide funding, mentoring, training, and networking opportunities and have contributed significantly to business growth.
- 72,395 new jobs created since 2014.
- 7,104 jobs supported in 2024 alone.
- €19.6 million in grant aid approved for 990 enterprises in 2023.
The network promotes equal access, diversity, and inclusion; but does it truly deliver on that promise? Women participate in mentoring and training at higher rates than men, yet receive less financial support. Although initiatives like National Women's Enterprise Day show progress, with a record 2,200 female entrepreneurs participating in 2024, many women still feel their businesses do not fit within traditional enterprise frameworks.
Sarah Power of Lucy & Me tells her story of getting the idea for her business and the support she received from her Local Enterprise Office to get started
What challenges do women face in the LEO system?
For many women entrepreneurs, engagement with the LEOs is both an opportunity and a frustration. While support exists, it often doesn’t reflect their realities. As Elena noted, "The thinking is very 1970s… the male model of business".
Some of the most commonly reported challenges include:
- Funding and business support biased toward high-growth and male-dominated sectors, leaving women-led service-based businesses at a disadvantage.
- Business mentoring is often geared toward generic advice or profit-driven business models, which may not align with women’s industries or motivations towards social and community value creation.
- LEOs supports generally focus on early-stage business development, with limited pathways for longer-term growth strategies.
- Training schedules often do not accommodate those with caregiving responsibilities.
- Support application processes can be time-consuming and unnecessarily complex.
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From RTÉ News, female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland praise support group
What about positive experiences with LEOs?
Despite these challenges, many women find value in LEOs. For instance, Victoria found the courses to be "very practical and very information-based" and "the affordability is a no-brainer".
LEOs are recognised as a valuable resource in key areas:
- Many women benefit from peer support and connections, especially with other women entrepreneurs.
- LEO staff can act as mediators, helping women to navigate bureaucratic processes and making it easier for them to access resources.
- When there is the right fit, LEOs can play a key role in helping businesses formalise, grow, and expand, supporting their long-term sustainability.
So what can be done to improve things?
LEOs are a valuable resource for women entrepreneurs, but there is room to provide more and better support alternatives to meet diverse business needs. Here are four recommendations
Policies that reflect women’s diverse entrepreneurial experiences
Diversify support programmes to cater to various industries and business models, diverse growth strategies, and different development stages.
Develop programmes offering incremental, flexible milestones (e.g. bite-sized, modular, and asynchronous training).
Equal representation for women in leadership roles
Advance women’s participation in decision-making roles within LEOs and enterprise bodies.
Promote success stories and role models that represents the diverse spectrum of women’s entrepreneurship.
Make funding and resource allocation more inclusive
Remove restrictive eligibility criteria that disproportionately disadvantage women entrepreneurs.
Increase financial supports for non-traditional business models (e.g. growth through partnerships rather than traditional employment routes).
Foster transparent and supportive communication
Develop dedicated points of contact to provide consistent and accessible support.
Promote transparency in decision-making and improve communication on funding rejections and next steps.
LEOs are a vital support for entrepreneurs in Ireland, but their one-size-fits-all approach does not fully meet the needs of women entrepreneurs. Addressing the challenges above would help unlock their full potential, ensuring that all entrepreneurs have an equal opportunity to succeed.
For many women, success is about building sustainable businesses that align with their values. As Cathy put it, "it's also about the level of impact that I’m having. Being truly successful is just doing what I love and being able to fully support myself." With more inclusive policies, LEOs can ensure that entrepreneurial opportunities are accessible to all.
* Names of interviewees have been changed
This article is based on PhD research that used a particular form of qualitative research which sought to gather in-depth, detailed insights from a small sample rather than broad, general conclusions based on large numbers. 13 women who used the services of the Local Enterprise Offices network were interviewed at length. The findings from this research are shared in a way that may be useful in similar situations, but they do not claim to reflect the experiences of all women entrepreneurs. Please note that the article also refers to the most recent publicly available data on financial support to highlight ongoing issues women entrepreneurs face in accessing funding. This is a challenge that was highlighted by the women interviewed, and it continues to be recognised in the wider field.
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
