Locally traded enterprise

The locally traded enterprise (LTE) sector, encompasses a wide range of businesses in areas such as retail, leisure, arts, accommodation, construction, entertainment and food, and accounts for a substantial number of the total number of businesses operating in Ireland. This sector provides significant employment and is broadly based across all regions playing an important role in placemaking and contributing to the economic and social fabric of towns and villages across Ireland. These sectors provide essential services and are vital to ensuring the security of supply of essential products and services.

The government’s White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 recognises the place of LTEs within the wider enterprise ecosystem and also the importance of ensuring development needs are met. This is particularly in the context of contributing to Ireland’s ambitions in achieving decarbonisation and digitalisation, and enabling locally traded sectors to thrive, helping them to improve productivity through digitalisation and reducing energy and carbon emissions (White Paper Pillar 5).

The department engages at a policy level with LTE stakeholders and across government, to increase its resilience and productivity and to identify any issues impacting the growth and development of ambitious firms with potential to grow and expand quality employment. We explore policy options for initiatives which would support the sustainability and growth of businesses in the LTE sector including the developmental needs and consider the challenges and opportunities arising from disruptive changes such as climate change and digitalisation, including skills development.

In terms of direct interventions, the Local Enterprise Offices provide various training and advisory programmes to small businesses, as well as acting as a ‘first stop shop’ providing signposting for all firms to find out about resources and programmes available from government departments and agencies. The LEOs provide advisory services for locally trading firms to improve productivity particularly around digitalisation and reducing energy and carbon emissions including the Energy Efficiency Grant and the Trading Online Voucher Scheme.

For LTE queries please contact lte@enterprise.gov.ie.

Related information and locally traded sector resources

Supports and information for business

Local Enterprise Offices provide a range of training and advisory programmes to small businesses, as well as providing signposting for all firms to find out what resources and programmes are available from government departments and agencies.

Department publishes report on impact of improved working conditions

Supporting SMEs - find the right supports

Supporting SMEs Online Tool

Small Business Loans - Microfinance Ireland

Free online resources on funding issues

Irish Point of Single Contact

Skills for Better Business

Skills for Better Business courses and contacts

Intreo Services for Employers

Employers for Change

The business environment

Mapping of supports