News & Events

Minister Breen visits Local Enterprise Office Kildare and announces 35 new jobs for local company VEI Global

The Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen TD, has today announced 35 new jobs through local Kildare company VEI Global - a company supported by both the Local Enterprise Office and Enterprise Ireland.

VEI Global is an Independent Voice/Network Consultancy and Technical Service provider established in 2010 based in Kildare, the company also have offices in Belfast and London and plan to open an additional European Office early 2019.

VEI deliver end-end projects across all of Europe and the US for major clients, which includes telecoms/IT field technician installation, Solution Design, project management, 24/7 helpdesk, account management and escalation teams. The services they deploy include, WiFi, Data Networks, Contact Centre, IP Telephony, Internet Circuits.

Minister Breen said, “I would like to congratulate VEI Global on their continued expansion and warmly welcome the announcement here today of 35 new jobs over the next two years. It is always heartening to see regionally-based companies grow in scale, providing jobs and contributing to the economic and social wellbeing of their locality.”

Minister Breen is meeting staff from the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Kildare along with the Head of Enterprise, representatives from the local authority, and the local business community to discuss the business supports available to companies in the region.

Last year alone, LEO Kildare supported 41 different business projects with direct financial assistance worth (€456,435). Its 171 client companies created 128 new net jobs across the county in 2017. It also provided training for 1,684 entrepreneurs and mentoring for another 432 entrepreneurs.

Minister Breen said: “More than ever before, the Local Enterprise Offices, including LEO Kildare, will be the ‘first stop shop’ for local entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners throughout the county and the regions. To support the growth plans of even more locally-grown enterprises, an extra €5 million in funding was secured for the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in Budget 2019, which is up 22% on 2018.”

The 31 Local Enterprise Offices are located in each county and provide a range of supports and expert advice for entrepreneurs, start-ups, micro enterprises and small businesses providing training, mentoring and financial supports. Funding for the Local Enterprise Offices, working in partnership with the local authorities and Enterprise Ireland, is provided by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

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The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) plays a key role in implementing the Government’s policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy and creating an environment which supports job creation and maintenance. The Department also has a remit to promote fair competition in the marketplace, protect consumers and safeguard workers.
For more information please contact press.office@dbei.gov.ie or ph: (01) 6312200
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Company Bios:

VEI Global Background

VEI Global is an Independent Voice/Network Consultancy and Technical Service provider established in 2010 by Chris Webb, Conor Killeen & Lloyd O'Rourke. The HQ office was originally set-up in Maynooth Business Campus. VEI Global moved to Millennium Park in 2013 for additional space in-line with their expansion plans. VEI also have offices in Belfast and London and plan to open an additional European Office early 2019.

VEI deliver end-end projects across all of Europe and the US for major clients, which includes telecoms/IT field technician installation, Solution Design, project management, 24/7 helpdesk, account management and escalation teams. The services we deploy include, WiFi, Data Networks, Contact Centre, IP Telephony, Internet Circuits.

Website: www.vei.ie

SweetSpot Sourcing:

Sweetspot Sourcing was set up in 2012, by Susan Dempsey and Fiona Craul. Both came from a world of manufacturing, with particular experience in Asia. They wanted to combine this experience to open a product sourcing company, dedicated to producing bespoke products.
Sweetspot Sourcing are based in Ladytown Industrial Park, Naas, Co Kildare, Ireland and Fujian China. They are a team of product sourcing professionals, working with leading brands in the creation of bespoke products. They have particular expertise in producing products that are used in retail incentives, gift with purchase and own label products in the FMCG, beauty and drinks industries. Some examples of their promotional work includes the Keelings freezer bag and the Goodfellas pizza cutter.

Website: www.sweetspot.ie

Terra NutriTech

TERRA NutriTECH began life in 2012 as TERRA Liquid Minerals when brothers Tom and Padraig Hennessy recognised a lack of progression in the minerals industry and developed an intelligent mineral dosing system. They are based in Moone Co. Kildare, on the family farm.
In 2017, they expanded operations by building a new manufacturing facility to produce customised liquid minerals. Further expansion is under way with the building of a new office block and a holding yard for their magnesium and mineral products.
In September 2018, TERRA Liquid Minerals rebranded to TERRA NutriTECH and today, TERRA NutriTECH is a global company backed by science and innovation. They work with partners to improve animal health using agritech and automation to accurately feed minerals in water.

Website: terranutritech.com

The Carpentry Store

The Carpentry Store is a family owned and run business in M7 Business Park, Naas, Co. Kildare. It is one of Ireland’s largest suppliers of quality woodworking tools and supplies. Since they opened in May 2003, The Carpentry Store has grown into a trusted source for woodworkers. The store offers superior products, expert advice, a wide range of demonstrations and events throughout the year. The latest venture was the launching of our new web store in February 2016. The business continues to grow from strength to strength and from generation to generation.

Website: www.thecarpentrystore.com

Access Earth

Access Earth was developed in 2012 by Matt McCann, who has cerebral palsy. Access Earth is a free platform that allows you to find and rate places by your accessibility needs. The site's database of venues across the globe is currently split into four categories, covering places to eat and drink, places to sleep, shopping and things to do. Users select a venue type and where around the world they want to search, before specifying accessibility criteria, such as step-free access, ground floor rooms and accessible bathrooms. Matt won the 2017 IBYE competition for Best Idea and has continued to expand and grow his idea into the business it is today.

Website: access.earth

L’Art Du Chocolat

Nicolas Bateau and Cyril Borie are from Bayonne, a city in the French Basque Country. Their work as a chef and pastry chef brought them to Ireland, and the pair set up L’Art Du Chocolat in 2013, operating out of a location in the K Club for the first few years. They opened the doors of their chocolate bar on Maynooth’s Main Street in November 2016
L'Art du Chocolat produce handmade chocolates and chocolate sculptures using Valrhona Chocolate. In the Chocolate Bar, you will be able to see eye catching ideas, handmade chocolates and fine french style patisserie , made on the spot for the pleasure of your eyes and palate. They also supply many hotels and retailers with wholesale chocolate.

Website: www.lartdu-chocolat.com

Pestle & Mortar

Pestle & Mortar was founded by Sonia Deasy in her hometown of Newbridge Co. Kildare.
Pestle & Mortar are a family-made and run business with a word-of-mouth following – based purely on the results: hydrated and healthy looking skin. They make a range of skin care products for women with a focus on using quality ingredients and formulas. All of their products pass the famously strict European skincare standards, so you can trust that what you’re putting on your body is pure, safe and highly effective.
They have adopted a game-changing method of formulating, where all Pestle & Mortar products are formulated as stand-alone products. By doing this our formulations end up being individual and easy for our customers to use our entire range.

Website: www.pestleandmortar.com

Kildare Farm Foods

Kildare farm foods are a third generation family run farm, owned and run by David and Susan Sexton in Rathmuck, Co. Kildare.
Their open farm is free to the public and they recently obtained a European zoo license which resulted in them welcoming two camels and more recently a zebra. There are a range of activities available as well as the animals, from adventure railroad routes, walking trials and crazy golf there is something for all the family. Onsite there is also a farm shop and cafe which sells a range of home produced and local Kildare products. Susan and David have also entered the exporting market with the Kildare produce, targeting the UAE and Asia.

Website: www.kildarefarmfoods.com

Max Mindpower

Nikki Collins created Max Mindpower just over a year ago. She is based in Calverstown Co. Kildare.
Max is a bear on a mission, who, along with a book series, imparts his wisdom to children as they navigate and grow through the world. Max is a developmental toy and bear that plays guided mindfulness meditations and breathes along too. His guided mindfulness meditations are accessed by pressing his paws and are specially designed in length for the intended age range. Max also teaches children some of the most popular and powerful techniques taken from CBT, NLP, Positive Psychology and Self Compassion, which are integrated into the stories enabling children to understand these concepts as they see these things in context.

Website: www.max-mindpower.com

Carve On

Founded by Gary and Alan McCormack, they design and manufacture a broad range of goods from premium vegetable tanned leather. Specialising in the customisation and personalisation, they have developed working relationships with individual and corporate customers in over 50 countries across six continents. A close-knit team of nine, together they pool their experience to ensure overall quality. They finish each product by hand and take pride in everything that they make.
They are based in CarveOn, Kilcullen Industrial Estate, Naas Road, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare

Website: www.carveon.com

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