A look back on Kildare's incredible and innovative Big Business Show

Kildare County Council’s Local Enterprise Office hosted the inaugural Big Business Show at MERITS in Naas on Tuesday, March 4. 

The event attracted over 200 entrepreneurs and exhibitors, creating a vibrant atmosphere of networking, creative thinking and enthusiasm in support of small businesses. This event is an absolute must for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. 

Attendees had the opportunity to engage with over 20 exhibiting business support agencies including Enterprise Ireland, Intertrade Ireland, KWETB, Guaranteed Irish and Skillnet Ireland.

Guests could also benefit from:

• One-to-one sessions with experts and mentors in the adviser zone.
• Immersive virtual reality experiences in the MERITS Content Lab. 
• Free professional headshots. 
• The opportunity to demo their first podcast.
• Multiple workshops, talks and discussions in the Masterclass Zone.

Emer Higgins TD, the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, spoke at the event. Giving insight into Government Procurement Opportunities for SMEs, the TD encouraged them to bid on their frameworks.

Also in attendance was Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, who launched Kildare County Council’s Kildare Skills Strategy 2024-2030 in partnership with County Kildare Chamber.

Along with this, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, launched Kildare’s Business Owner’s Guide. This features supports for business, which aims to assist entrepreneurs in Kildare navigate the range of financial and non-financial supports available at the various stages of business development.

READ MORE: Exciting opportunity for aspiring food entrepreneurs in Kildare

This publication can be accessed here. 

Many attendees shared their experiences at the amazing event. 

Vivian Wong McKendry of One More Thing said, “I had a fantastic time at the Big Business Show yesterday, gaining invaluable insights into financial supports from the LEO, and learning from inspiring speakers on marketing, social media, and virtual reality. To top it off, we even had the opportunity to get professional headshots taken—such a well-rounded and rewarding experience!”

Xiaoxiao Mullhall of Global EPS and SinoVentures stated, “Attending Kildare's Big Business Show was a fantastic experience. As someone deeply involved in helping businesses expand into new markets, I found the event to be a fantastic opportunity to connect with so many business support organisations, chat with industry experts, and meet fellow entrepreneurs. The sessions on marketing, investment, and procurement were really insightful, giving me plenty of practical takeaways to refine business strategies. Huge thanks to the LEO team for organizing such a valuable event—it was incredibly useful, and I’m excited to put these insights into action and build new partnerships.” 

Robert Kennedy, Swag.eu, spoke fondly on his experience, “Kildare’s Big Business Show was exceptional, I found some great networking opportunities, enjoyed inspiring sessions with leading speakers, and took advantage of exclusive access to key business support organisations. Kildare Local Enterprise Office ran a great event, creating an ideal platform for professional growth and connection. The addition of professional headshots further was very thoughtful. Over the years, LEO Kildare’s support has been invaluable to Swag.eu, and we highly recommend their services.” 

Jacqui McNabb, Head of Enterprise, Economic Development and Tourism, Kildare County Council declared  “If you missed The Big Business Show, this is certain to be an annual event and expect 2026’s Big Business Show to be even bigger! More people than ever are ready to become their own boss and take their venture to the next level. If you are one of them, reach out to your Local Enterprise Office. The team are ready to support you on your entrepreneurial journey.”