Waterford Chamber Skillnet, County Wexford Chamber Skillnet, Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet and County Tipperary Chamber Skillnet joined forces to deliver an impactful conference dedicated to supporting the competitiveness of businesses based in the South East.
Over 150 attendees representing more than 100 businesses from across the region gathered at the Newpark Hotel Kilkenny, on April 9th, for the sold-out ‘Scaling Your Business: Strategies, Systems and Solutions’ event. The unique conference provided an interactive learning experience that equipped business leaders and entrepreneurs with the practical tools, frameworks and insights needed to scale their businesses effectively.
The audience was presented with a powerful keynote address by one of Ireland’s most recognisable entrepreneurs, Aimee Connolly, founder and CEO of Sculpted by Aimee. Sharing her journey of rapid growth, international expansion and brand leadership, Aimee inspired attendees with her real-world insights into building a scalable business grounded in purpose and innovation.
Emphasising the importance of the event, Dave Flynn, Director of Business Networks, Skillnet Ireland, said: “Skillnet Ireland is committed to equipping Irish businesses with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy. By bringing together business leaders from across the South East, this conference delivered both a learning platform and a launchpad for innovation, growth and talent development. The event exemplified the power of collaboration and regional leadership in supporting businesses to navigate emerging challenges and drive competitiveness.”
Tommie Ryan, Network Manager, Waterford Chamber Skillnet, said: “This wasn’t just an event, it was a training experience designed with practical learning outcomes at its core. Our goal was to ensure every attendee left with clear, actionable strategies to grow and scale their business. The calibre of our speakers, the engagement from participants, and the incredible energy in the room affirmed the value of this collaborative approach to talent development. We are delighted with the outcome.”
The conference featured a panel discussion with speakers David Walsh (Netwatch), Dave Flynn (Skillnet Ireland), John Fogarty (RE/MAX Ireland), Brendan Crowley (Wexford Bus), and Leah O’Dwyer (ZeroMission), which was expertly hosted by Teresanne O'Reilly, founder of The Forest & Twelve. Each speaker brought sector-specific expertise and lessons in strategic planning, systems optimisation, leadership, and innovation. High performance coach Gerry Duffy also led an informative training session outlining key leadership tools and techniques that attendees can use as they grow their businesses.
Participants gained expert knowledge on building scalable systems, structuring teams for growth, understanding customer lifecycles, funding expansion, and fostering cultures of innovation - key areas essential to business success in today’s competitive landscape. With a strong focus on talent as a driver of business growth, the event demonstrated the critical role of upskilling, talent development and regional collaboration in shaping the future of enterprise in the South East.
For information on upcoming training and development opportunities through Waterford Chamber Skillnet visit www.waterfordskillnet.ie
