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Letterkenny Institute of Technology and Donegal ETB joined Donegal County Council and IDA Ireland and presented to a number of key influencers from London’s tech and knowledge-based sectors, including the Lord Mayor of the City of London Vincent Keaveny, showcasing Donegal’s compelling proposition as a place for businesses looking to scale and grow.

(Image Caption - Left to Right) Alderman Vincent Keaveny, Lord Mayor of the City of London; Cllr. Ciaran Brogan, Donegal County Council; the Mayor for Islington, Cllr. Troy Gallagher.

The Business Breakfast heard about the strong offering of brand ‘Donegal’. With its’ strategic location on the EU/UK border, excellent connectivity, supportive business environment and a range of economic and social infrastructure projects underway, attendees learned that there has never been a better time to invest in Donegal.

As chair of the Donegal County Council’s Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee, Cllr. Ciaran Brogan, who led the Donegal delegation, said that ‘’we are delighted with the response received from our Business Breakfast. It’s vital that we keep Donegal top of mind not just for our diaspora but also those considering establishing business operations in Ireland.’’

(Image Caption - Left to Right) Event Organisers and speakers. John Andy Bonar, LYIT; Caroline Wilson, Islington Borough Council; Peadar McFadden, Doubletree by Hilton; Ciaran Martin, Donegal County Council; Cllr. Ciaran Brogan; Rosie Casey, IDA Ireland; Mayor of Islington Council, Cllr. Troy Gallagher; Paul Hannigan, President of LYIT; Anne McHugh, CE of Donegal ETB; Pat ‘Nora’ Gallagher; Anne Marie Conlon, Donegal County Council.

The availability of talent is a very important consideration for any inward investment project and attendees heard first hand from Paul Hannigan and John Andy Bonar from Letterkenny Institute of Technology and Anne McHugh, Donegal Education and Training Board on how they work closely with businesses to develop bespoke education and training programmes to meet the needs of existing and future business requirements.

Head of Economic Development with Donegal County Council, Anne Marie Conlon believes that this is just the start of the conversation with these key influencers in London saying that “we stand ready to engage with businesses who are interested in exploring Donegal as an option for their operations and todays event was about starting the conversation and we will work to keep the lines of communication open”.

(Image Caption): Anne Marie Conlon, Head of Economic Development, Donegal County Council presents the “Donegal Offering”. 

Rosie Casey, VP of High Growth Companies and Life Sciences at IDA Ireland, who compered the event, added: ‘’It’s great to see the proactive and collaborative approach being taken by agencies in promoting Donegal as a location for inward investment. Today was a huge success and I’m confident it will be the start of a productive campaign aimed at growing the already successful foreign direct investment base established in Donegal.’’