Nearly 200 new roles created by Meath small businesses in 2025
Almost 200 new jobs were created last year by small businesses supported by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Meath.
Figures from the Department of Enterprise show that 197 jobs were created in 2025 by companies receiving financial support from LEO Meath.
After accounting for business closures, amalgamations and firms transferring to Enterprise Ireland, this resulted in a net employment gain of 54 jobs across the county.
In total, 246 small businesses in Meath are supported by the LEO, employing 1,443 people.
The figures were announced by Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail Alan Dillon as he published the national results for the LEO network.
Across the country, LEO-supported companies now account for 40,285 jobs in 7,148 businesses — the highest level since the offices were established in 2014.
Mr Dillon said LEO client companies created 7,261 new jobs nationally last year, a 7pc increase on 2024 and the 12th consecutive year of jobs growth.
“Crucially, 82pc of these new jobs were created outside Dublin, demonstrating the impact of targeted local supports in every region,” he said.
Chief Executive of Meath County Council Kieran Kehoe said the local figures reflected the resilience of small businesses across the county.
“These figures highlight the significant impact that the Local Enterprise Offices and their clients are making in driving economic growth,” he said.
“The creation of 197 jobs is only a small part of the role the LEO is playing in fostering entrepreneurship and growing enterprise in towns, villages and communities across Meath.”
Mr Kehoe added that the employment figures relate only to companies that received direct financial assistance and do not capture the “thousands more" that receive the likes of Lean, Green and Digital supports or training and mentoring.
LEOs provide a range of supports to small enterprises including grant aid, mentoring, training and assistance with digitalisation, sustainability and market expansion.
Recent initiatives include the Grow Digital Voucher, which helps firms begin their digital transition, and the Market Explorer Grant, aimed at supporting companies to enter new markets.
Anne Lanigan, Head of Local Enterprise and Regions at Enterprise Ireland, said the results reflect both the impact of the LEO network and the ambition of the businesses it supports.
“The continued growth in jobs, with 82pc of the new jobs created last year outside Dublin, shows that entrepreneurs can start, grow and scale their businesses from anywhere in Ireland,” she added.
Local Enterprise Offices, which operate through local authorities and are funded by Enterprise Ireland, support thousands of small businesses and start-ups nationwide each year and run initiatives such as Local Enterprise Week, National Women’s Enterprise Day and the Student Enterprise Programme.