Connecting Kilkenny to economic growth
By continuing to make Kilkenny a great place to do business, we can build our small and medium businesses, attract more investing companies and create jobs for future generations.
As we already know, Kilkenny’s population is growing. However, it is growing more slowly than the rest of the country. This is important because economic growth is usually reliant upon population growth.
Kilkenny needs to attract and retain graduates and be an aspirational place for talent and businesses to locate.
One way to achieve this is to keep investing in our already vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem and also to celebrate the 'liveability' of Kilkenny County as a whole.
Liveability is a complex concept that's made up of many subjective pieces like commuting times, schools, housing, all of which need constant refining. BelongKilkenny.ie is the perfect summary of the principal reasons why so many of us have made Kilkenny home.
A key strategic issue for Kilkenny is our need to strengthen our education, research, and innovation capacity . The South East Technical University's (SETU) most recent strategic plan included the development of a Kilkenny campus. This campus in addition to those in Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow and Carlow, will make SETU into a Technological university for more than 18,000 students and more than 2000 staff.
Finding work is one thing. Finding work that fulfils you at every stage of your life, is quite another.
Even in these times of global unrest, Kilkenny remains focused on attracting different industries and companies to locate here.
It’s our aim to support employers in the creation of a variety of work. It's also our aim to encourage lifelong learning. FETCH courses and the Design & Craft Council's Jewellery and Goldsmithing courses are just some of the options available in Kilkenny. Kilkenny County Council is leading a careers inititive called Careers Kilkenny. This is a great starting point on the journey towards finding a fulfilling career. All of these initiatives will help to retain talent and give everyone a reason to stay here and thrive here.
Investment in Infrastructure
There's a clear connection between infrastructure, Foreign Direct Investment and jobs. That's why Kilkenny County Council has made it a priority to invest in the strategic development of places like Belview Port.
Located in South Kilkenny, just 4 miles from Waterford city, the port at Belview is the nearest Irish multi-modal port to mainland Europe. Currently home to 23 businesses with more than 600 employees, it is the natural hub for the integration of shipping, road and rail freight services. With connections via road and rail and 24/7 operations, the port is an efficient, cost-effective location for those involved in the shipment of goods.
Kilkenny's latest Local Economic and Community Plan provides a new framework to deliver positive change. Its vision is that by 2028 Kilkenny will be a future-ready, citizen-centric and welcoming county that is climate resilient, provides jobs, attracts highly productive businesses, delivers inclusive services and celebrates creativity.
aThe economic progress of Kilkenny is also being driven by policies like the Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1, which lists the following sectors as being key to Kilkenny’s economic development...
Financial Services
Technology
Manufacturing
Agriculture & Food
Creative Industries
Tourism & Hospitality
Third Level Education
Working with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, Kilkenny County Council and a wide range of partners have successfully attracted a wide range of organisations from a variety of sectors, the most recent being the Glanbia expansion, and investment from Abbot among others.
The presence of these organisations in Kilkenny means that it's our responsibility to help them understand and help with our shared climate action priorities.
Remote Working Across Kilkenny
From a town without even a cafe, to a bustling place with plans a plenty, Urlingford is a town in transformation.
Back in 2020, Kilkenny County Council engaged consultants to run a Health Check on the town and a strategic plan emerged to create a commercial and recreational hubin the centre of the town.
An active Town Team was established in 2021 and in conjunction with Kilkenny County Council, a remote working hub will open in the refurbished old bank premiseson the Main Street. Serving the new hybrid approach to work, this new facility will also help to bring footfall back to the town centre.
Kilkenny County Council has supported a number of other Remote Working hubs across the county. You can read more about them by clicking on this link BelongKilkenny.ie.
The mixed-use site of the Abbey Quarter has successfully integrated a variety of commercial premises. The anchor tenant for the recently renovated Brewhouse is Tirlán.
Built with Shorthand