In the final episode of the series, this week's Open For Business looks at the childcare sector in Ireland.
The childcare industry is facing huge challenges as they try to adapt to Covid-19 measures while still opening their doors to as many children as possible.
The Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, Roderic O'Gorman, discusses the sector, what the Government is doing to help childcare business owners get through this next phase, the financial packages available and measures to help parents get the services they need to enable them to return to work.
Minister for Children, @RodericOGorman, explains what supports are being provided to the childcare sector to avoid an increase in fees for parents.#OpenForBusinessRTE pic.twitter.com/qAQ77aaWtR
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) August 25, 2020
Open for Business also takes a look at brand new business hopefuls as it meets with people that embody the Irish entrepreneurial spirit that keeps small businesses up and down the country going.
Theses businesses include a bike shop in Wexford set up by a 22-year-old cycling enthusiast, a new barber shop on Dublin's northside, and a brother and sister who have opened a new grocery store in Sandymount.
As we come to the end of our series we hear from entrepreneurs from Mayo to Wexford who have Opened for Business, despite all the COVID challenges and restrictions.@RecoveryRoomDub@CalmBeautyIrl@gra_chocolates @PureClothing__@griolladh#OpenForBusinessRTE pic.twitter.com/gB0o2zWhRX
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) August 25, 2020
The programme also hears from a range of businesses from the Mayo college boys setting up a sustainable clothing company, the new beauty spa in Dublin, to the pastry chef from Galway now making artisan chocolates.
Jenny Melia, Divisional Manager of High Potential Start-ups with Enterprise Ireland, also talks about the range of grants and supports available for start-ups and other businesses trying to navigate Covid-19 and Brexit, as well as where SMEs can go for further advice.
Jenny Melia, @Entirl, on the range of supports Enterprise Ireland provides to businesses.
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) August 25, 2020
For more information on Enterprise Ireland's COVID supports, go to:https://t.co/x3YVhftTBq#OpenForBusinessRTE pic.twitter.com/WVzB6KQGtq
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And this week's Gold Star slot belongs to Roasted Brown in Delgany, Co.Wicklow.
In our Gold Star ? slot this week, we meet a coffee roaster whose business thrived during the lockdown, so he decided to help support others in his industry who had to shut their doors.@RoastedBrown#OpenForBusinessRTE pic.twitter.com/xgYzEfR30Y
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) August 25, 2020
Relevant Links
Business
For more information on Enterprise Ireland’s COVID supports, go here
For the range of supports developed by the Irish Government and Enterprise Ireland to enable Irish businesses to respond to Brexit, click here
For more information on Enterprise Ireland’s funding supports, go here
For SME Sustaining Enterprise Fund, find info here
For Local Enterprise Office supports click here
For more information on Irish start-ups in Q1, go here
Childcare
For more information from Department of Children and Youth Affairs, visit here
Guidance for parents and service providers on the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services can be found online here
Early Childhood Ireland’s plan for reopening can be found here
The latest HSE Guidelines for if your child displays Covid symptoms are available here
The latest Pobal Early Years Sector Annual Report is available here
For the Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe Report 2019, visit here
You can watch the whole series on the RTÉ Player here
