pTools Online Portal Solution for 31 New Local Enterprise Offices

May 9, 2014 - PRLog -- pTools software, a leading provider of enterprise web content management solutions, today announced the delivery of a new online portal and multiple individual websites solution for Ireland's new Local Enterprise Offices (https://www.localenterprise.ie/) network as part of the Irish Government initiative to improve local start-up business development and support services.

The portal site and 31 individual LEO local websites was delivered by Enterprise Ireland's (https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/) in-house IT services team using pTools Cloud Software as a Service, Web Content Management (http://www.ptools.com/Software/pTools_WCM/) platform.

Features of the deployment include:

Responsive mobile web enabled content delivery.
Email marketing and event booking.
Multi-site, multi-language web content delivery.
Portal site web content syndication.
Business supports and grants applications services.

This nationwide web initiative in Ireland is designed to use internet as a means of improving efficiencies and extending services to all regional and local areas. pTools worked with a range of web design and infrastructure partners during the project. The solution enables each LEO to share services and benefit from the economy of scale and scope inherent in the portal architecture. As a result even the smallest LEO can now provide email marketing, event booking, mobile web and central grant information to entrepreneurs in its local area.

Commenting on the solution, pTools CEO Keith Wood said: "We believe that web portal services like those provided for the new LEO's demonstrate just how new, web and mobile technology can help improve the delivery of Government services at a local level. We are committed to working with partners in delivering world-class results that gain the support of everyone involved in Government service delivery online."

The network of 31 LEOs will deliver an improved system of local enterprise supports to start-ups and small businesses across the country - with more staff, more funding, and more services being provided. The establishment of the LEOs also means that all categories of business - including sole traders, micro businesses and small and medium sized companies - will now have access to local Government supports and advice.

Commenting on the national system of LEOs at the official launch last month the Taoiseach (http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/splash/) Enda Kenny TD said: "The Government wants to make recovery local. That means supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs to create local jobs. We will do this through the new network of LEOs. Jobs are the top priority of the Government and there has been progress in the past year with over 1,000 jobs a week being created in the private sector. The vast majority of these jobs have been created in small, local companies. It is these new companies, employing just a few people that make the biggest difference in driving a jobs recovery. The LEOs will be in the front line in making recovery local."

The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore TD said: "We have been working, through the Action Plan for Jobs, to drill down into what small businesses and start-ups need. This work has produced initiatives such as the Microenterprise Loan Fund and Credit Guarantee Schemes that have allowed businesses to work their way through the recession. And on the other side, through Pathways to Work, we are taking a practical, labour market-focussed approach to what jobseekers need to shorten their journey back to work. With today's launch of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), we are ensuring that the full range of state supports for all small business can be easily accessed in one place and at a local level".

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD said: "A key part of our Action Plan for Jobs is supporting job-creation across every region of the country. In the past year we have seen major progress on this, with employment now growing in all regions, but we must now build on and accelerate that, and this year we are putting in place a range of measures like an expanded Regional Aid Map, IDA advance facilities and crucially the Local Enterprise Offices. The LEOs will deliver more services and better services to the start-ups and small businesses across the country that we rely on to create the jobs we need. Today is a good day for business and job-creation across every region of the country".

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan TD said "The establishment of LEOs in local authorities is a key component of the 2014 Action Plan for Jobs and is also part of a wider process of reform in local government and enabling local government to be the key agents for delivering effective and efficient services locally." Minister Hogan said "We will have a reformed and re-energised local authority system in place following the local elections, and embedding the LEOs in local authorities is part of the wider reform programme". Minister Hogan went on to say "Local authorities are already very active in supporting inward investment, promoting the commercial and enterprise interests of their areas, working with other State agencies and local business in supporting investment decisions."