Enterprise Nation partners with Dargan Forum to help Irish small firms evolve their technology to boost local economies

Enterprise Nation has announced a strategic partnership with business technology conference the Dargan Forum to help accelerate small business engagement with technology to boost Irish localities.

Aiming to create a broad awareness of the social benefits that spring from greater small business adoption of technology, the partnership with the Dún Laoghaire-based Dargan Institute, the organisation behind the Forum, will see Enterprise Nation launch Ireland's first Tech Hub, a free resource that will connect thousands of small firms to tried and tested tools and training.

'Putting People & Places First - Harnessing Technology for A Better World' is the theme of the day-long Dargan Forum, which takes place in the historic Assembly Room of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on 4 July.

It is all about empowering small businesses through digital knowledge, 'smart' solutions for localities, sustainable energy and digital towns to raise living standards for all.

Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, who is one of the high-profile tech entrepreneurs speaking at the event, said:

"When local stakeholders understand the profound benefits that supporting their small business community to accelerate digital adoption can bring, everyone benefits.

"Digital adoption is not just about new jobs, a tech-enabled, thriving local small business community creates better jobs, better businesses and more innovation -- all of which contribute to a healthy local economy.

"Tech Hub is backed by experts and founding sponsors who all understand that failing to tackle digital performance now is storing up problems for years, and possibly decades to come.

"That's why we're delighted to be partnering with Dargan Institute's forward-thinking plans to ensure Irish firms can get ahead in the global digital transformation race."

Eoin Costello, national director of the Dargan Institute and adviser on the government's Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum (EDAF), said:

"We are seeing rapid change and there's a real danger that local small business communities will be left behind - when the reality is that they have the most to gain.

"Offering digital support to local small businesses at scale is important to not only support growth and efficiency but also to ensure we can feel the benefit of change in our own communities, as well as helping to provide resilience to future shocks.

"Enterprise Nation does exactly that and it's why we're partnering with them for the Dargan Forum."

Enterprise Nation is set to unveil its dynamic digital Tech Hub Ireland platform at the Forum, in partnership with global telecommunications provider Vodafone Business.

Enterprise Nation research found a quarter (25%) of small firms are buying technology and not using these tools due to lack of knowledge and training. The research also found the experience of wasting resources left businesses feeling short changed.

The group also plans to launch a new Tech Consortium, which will see policy leads from major technology brands come together to discuss how digital performance amongst small businesses can be boosted across Ireland.

Tickets to Dargan Forum 2024 on 4 July are available here.