Longford SMEs invited to cut costs, win more contracts and strengthen margins at Circular Advantage

Rising input costs. Supply chain uncertainty. Tightening environmental regulation. Increasing sustainability criteria in tenders.

For many Longford SMEs, these pressures feel like added burdens. But what if the same pressures could become a competitive edge?

Circular Advantage is a practical, results-focused event designed to show Longford SMEs how circular economy practices can directly improve profitability, reduce risk and unlock new growth opportunities.

Taking place during Enterprise Week and hosted by award-winning broadcaster Ella McSweeney, the Circular Advantage event will take place on Tuesday, 3 March from 10am-12.30pm in Longford Golf Club. This event moves beyond theory to focus on what business owners care about most: cost control, contract wins and long-term resilience.

What’s in it for SMEs?

Attendees will leave with clear, actionable insights on how to:

—  Reduce material and waste costs and improve operational efficiency
—  Strengthen supply chain security by reducing reliance on volatile inputs
—  Win more public and private sector contracts by meeting evolving sustainability and procurement requirements
—  Avoid compliance risks and future penalties by staying ahead of emerging Irish and EU legislation
—  Unlock new revenue streams through reuse, repair, service models and smarter product design
—  Improve access to green finance and ESG-aligned funding
—  Enhance brand reputation and customer trust
—  Build a more resilient, future-proof business model

This is not about adding cost. It is about designing waste and inefficiency out of your business.

Expert Guidance, Local Relevance

The event features practical insights from industry leaders:

—  Valentina Tarasco, Assessment & Metrics Lead with the Circular Economy Team at Irish Manufacturing Research, will break down the current policy landscape and explain how circular practices deliver measurable financial and environmental returns.
—  John O’Shanahan of LeanBPI will demonstrate how Longford LEO’s Lean for Business and Digital for Business programmes can act as immediate, low-risk entry points to improving cost efficiency and embedding circular thinking.
—  Tim Murphy of Circular Economy Company will share a real-world case study showing how reducing waste to landfill translated into tangible cost savings for a local business.

The event concludes with a panel discussion hosted by Ella McSweeney, focused on practical implementation and the funding supports available to help SMEs take the next step.

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh, said, “Longford businesses are as capable as any in Ireland of leading the shift to a more resource-efficient economy. Events like Circular Advantage show our SMEs that sustainability is not an added burden — it is a sharper way to run a business, win more work and reduce exposure to cost shocks. I would encourage every business owner and manager in the county to take their place at this event.”

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, said, “Small businesses in Longford are already living with the effects of higher input costs and more demanding procurement requirements. Circular Advantage gives them a direct route to addressing both — not through theory, but through practical tools they can use in their businesses. Supporting our SME base to be leaner, more competitive and better placed to win contracts is a most welcome investment from the Just Transition Fund.”

A Strategic Opportunity for Longford

The Circular Economy Project, Circular Advantage, is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund. The project aims to position Longford as a leading region in Ireland’s shift toward a more resource-efficient and competitive economy.

For SME owners and managers asking how to protect margins while staying ahead of regulatory and procurement demands, this event provides both the strategic clarity and practical tools to act now.

Places are limited. SMEs interested in reducing costs, strengthening competitiveness and future-proofing growth are encouraged to register early.

Register your place at www.localenterprise.ie/longford.