Bank of Ireland : Irish Soccer Manager Martin O�Neill joins team Bank of Ireland to launch National Enterprise Week

Irish Soccer Manager Martin O'Neill joins team Bank of Ireland to launch National Enterprise Week

Bank of Ireland, launched its 14th National Enterprise Week which will run from Friday, 13 to Friday, 20 May 2016. The overall theme of the week is 'Let's Connect' and activities are focused on supporting SMEs and start-ups across the country to reach their business potential.

Today's launch event in the Aviva in Dublin is the first of four planned flagship events, which focus on 'Achieving Ambition', with others planned for Cork (18 May), Wexford (18 May) and Letterkenny (20 May). Each event features a number of high profile speakers chosen to motivate, and inspire SME businesses. Today's event featured special guest speakers including Irish soccer Manager, Martin O'Neill, Bank of Ireland, Group Chief Executive, Richie Boucher, Dublin City Manager, Owen Keegan and Bank of Ireland, Group Chief Economist, Dr. Loretta O'Sullivan.

As part of National Enterprise Week, Bank of Ireland's popular 'Show Your Business' events will be held in its 250-strong network of branches across the country with up to 3,000 businesses expected to showcase to potential customers. Branches will also host a number of other initiatives including 'At Ours/At Yours' networking events in the branch with a follow up session in a customer's premises, along with Multicultural Day celebrating inclusiveness and diversity in the community.

The Bank, in partnership with the Irish Smart Ageing Exchange (ISAX) will be hosting the first two seminars for the 'Ingenuity Programme', in Limerick (17 May) and Dublin (19 May) aimed at supporting mature entrepreneurs to start their own business, and delivered by Local Enterprise Offices and the DCU Ryan Academy.

During National Enterprise Week, Bank of Ireland's 'Enterprise Town' programme will run in nine towns across the country including Cork (Ballincollig, Clonakilty and Douglas), Tipperary (Cashel and Cahir), Donegal (Bundoran), Mayo (Ballaghaderreen) and Dublin (Grand Canal Square and Coolock/Northern Cross). Local branch managers working with committees of people from the local communities will host events focusing on Business, Sport and Community and Schools.

Support for SME and Start-ups

David Merriman, Head of Enterprise Development at Bank of Ireland said 'As Ireland's largest lender we are very committed to helping our customers achieve their business ambitions. We are always keen to help our customers find new ways to market through connecting and learning from their peers. Since 2009, our National Enterprise Week programme has grown to become one of our flagship business promotion initiatives annually, helping small and medium enterprises in practical ways by showcasing their products and services, and connecting them with mentors and fellow entrepreneurs. We are committed to supporting this networking activity, alongside our banking support for our business customers nationwide.'

For further information on Bank of Ireland's 'National Enterprise Week' visit www.bankofireland.com/letsconnect or follow us on Twitter @BOIbusiness. We will be using the #LetsConnect hashtag for all our social media updates over the week.