Wicklow Enterprise Park is into its 14th year of entrepreneurial growth and job creation, demonstrating a great turnaround from the days of its formation, which came about as a result of the unemployment crisis of the early 90s and the closure of two factories in Wicklow town.

To offset the tremendous blow to local employment by these closures, particularly the Celmac factory, Wicklow Enterprise Park Ltd was set up in 1993 as a partnership between local businesses, voluntary groups, state agencies and local public representativers to encourage employment throughout the county.  This spirit of community enterprise formed the creation of the Wicklow Enterprise Centre, located on the site of the former Celmac factory - the major employer in Wicklow prior to its closure.  Refurbishment work was carried out by FAS, with funds provided by various groups including Wicklow County Council, Wicklow Urban Disrict Council, Wicklow County Enterprise Board, Wicklow & District Chamber of Commerce, and Enterprise Ireland (formerly Forbairt).

Hopes were high in 1995 when the centre first opened, however, its performance has exceeded all expectations and this facility is now recognised as one of the most successful community enterprise centres in the country - reflected in the fact that it has won several awards over the years including, most recently, the Irish 'Enterprise Support Award' of the European Enterprise Awards 2007.

Wicklow Enterprise Park Ltd. is a community-owned, non-profit company that holds charitable status, with no remunerations for its Directors.  It is a model for enterprise centres everywhere and is an excellent example of how state agencies, local authorities and communities, working together, can improve the necessary infrastructure to provide new job opportunities.

Providing units with subsidised rents for offices, manufacturing, research, food preparation, and production, which range in size from 200sq.ft. to 5,000sq.ft., the Centre is the ideal location for businesses at incubation and developmental stages.  We currently have 74,000 sq.ft. of space leased to many diverse enterprises ranging from Food Production to IT maintenance, and from Garden Machinery to Architeture.

The original Phase I accommodates forty eight units in more than 40,000 sq.ft., many with road fronting premises, while others are grouped around an attactive central reception atrium with offices on ground and mezzanine levels.  As tenants grew and needed more space, coupled with the high rates of new business applying for units, plans were drawn up for the development of the new building, Phase II.

Phase II was opened in 2002 by the Tanaiste, Mary Harney, which afforded the Centre another 25,000 square foot of manufacturing and high-spec office units.  As there was already a waiting list for tenants, added to the fact that existing tenants were needing more space, it has meant Phase II has enjoyed full occupancy since it opened.

Today, the Wicklow Enterprise Centre employs over 265 people in 62 businesses and - since its inception - over 790 full-time jobs have been created by the various occupants who have been based in the Centre.  Over the past years, 98 businesses have passed through the Centre, many remaining in Wicklow and environs.  As they have grown, they have also increased their staffing levels, which can only benefit the development of employment locally.

As evidenced from these figures, the Wicklow Enterprise Centre has been a crucial factor in the regeneration of Wicklow Town as a centre for trade, employment and enterprise since its establishment.  Now a thriving community of businesses covering the manufacturing and services sectors, it is easy to forget that the Centre grew out of the employment crisis.  But this is not simply a case of times changing; the Wicklow Enterprise  Centre is a key contributor in actually bringing about change!

We are committed to providing the widest possible range of services and facilities to support businesses, thus allowing them to develop, prosper and create real jobs for Wicklow Town and its environs.