Local Enterprise Week is currently underway and this month Local Lens is taking a closer look at Thrive, Meath County Council’s recently opened Centre for Business Excellence.
The strategic development plays an important role in the council’s infrastructure to attract new investment while also providing practical support to established businesses.
Located beside Buvinda House, Director of Economic Development Dara McGowan said: Thrive is fully open and very busy.
You’ve heard of a one stop shop, but this is a first and only stop shop if you want anything to do with business support in Meath. We have brought all of our business support team into one building. That includes Economic Development, the Local Enterprise Office, Tourism Development, Broadband, Climate Action and the Regional Enterprise Plan programme manager, as well as the Centre for Food Culture. We also support sector specific networks” he added.
Two of those sector specific networks also feature in this episode. Boyne Valley Flavours Food Development Officer Rebecca Meade is joined by Aine Farrelly of Urbo Milk. They discuss the contribution Boyne Valley Flavours makes to its members and to the culinary heritage of County Meath.
Caoimhe Delany from the Local Enterprise Office and artist Anita Reynolds also join host Elaine Keogh to talk about MeathMade, the creative cluster developed with the support of LEO Meath. It has become an important network for artists, designers and creators working in the Meath landscape which is described as ‘where creativity began.
The episode also features interviews recorded at the official opening of Thrive, including the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, along with reactions from representatives of Meath based businesses.
The third episode of Local Lens for 2026, Inside Thrive: Enterprise, Food and Meath Made, provides insight into the practical supports available for large scale businesses, including foreign direct investment, along with the strategic and responsive sector specific networks that are now based at Thrive.
The episode is available now wherever you get your podcasts.
