Food experts from around the country will gather in Cork for this year’s Cork City Local Enterprise Week. The topic of discussion will be Food Sustainability – Dilemma or Opportunity. This is the much anticipated opening event for Local Enterprise Week Cork City 2020. Like all events during the week, it is free to attend.

The speakers represent both those leading Ireland’s sustainability agenda and those who will bring an international perspective. This event will be a unique opportunity to hear some great view points and will be followed by a panel discussion at the end of the event. The event takes place at 9.15am on Monday 2nd March at Nano Nagle Place.

The event will be facilitated by renowned food expert James Burke and among the speakers at the event are Clare Condon of the Good Day Deli, Virginia O’Gara of My Goodness, Donal Flynn of The Happy Pear and Julie Dorel of Musgrave.

Paul McGuirk, Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office, Cork City said: “The sustainability agenda is moving fast – so fast, that some food stakeholders are encountering a dilemma when trying to answer the question “Where to next?”. This short seminar will bring together a panel of experts who will share their views on the journey they have undertaken to date. For food manufacturers and foodservice operators attending, this will be the perfect opportunity to develop their thinking and explore a positioning for their business in relation to this topic.”

Also during Local Enterprise Week Cork City 2020 there will be a Start Your Own Business workshop with Derval O’Rourke which is targeted at full time or part time sportspeople. Derval will be in conversation with Aodan Enright of Smarter Egg and she will share insights from her own transition from elite athlete to digital health and wellness entrepreneur.

Local Enterprise Week 2020 is run by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Cork City. This year the schedule is packed with events from a walking networking session on South Mall to a food event on sustainability. Local Enterprise Week 2020 will take place from Monday 2nd March to Friday 6th March, 2020. All of the events throughout the week are free of charge.

Local Enterprise Week is a highly anticipated national event organised by Local Enterprise Offices around Ireland. As part of this, Local Enterprise Office, Cork City will be running a series of free business related events for Cork city businesses and budding entrepreneurs.

The week is packed with informative workshops, talks and conferences aimed at supporting owners and managers of small businesses in the city.

One highlight of the week will be a “Red Chair Interview” in Ballincollig with Peter Coppinger of Teamwork and Kate Hyde of Glencove Group. There will also be a Health and Wellbeing for Entrepreneurs’ event on Thursday 5th March at 9am at Republic of Work.

Other events include a timely workshop on Brexit “Brexit – it hasn’t gone away” which takes place at the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs on Tuesday 3rd March. The workshop, facilitated by Denis Casey of Casey Business Consulting, will outline how small businesses can prepare for Brexit, now that it has become a reality.

For the ‘Food Sustainability – Dilemma or Opportunity’ event places are free but booking is essential at: https://www.localenterprise.ie/CorkCity/TrainingEvents/Online-Bookings/Food-Sustainability-Dilemma-or-Opportunity-.html

For further information on the list of the free events and activities taking place in Cork City during Local Enterprise Week visit www.localenterprise.ie/CorkCity.