The National Association of Community Enterprise Centres (NACEC) represents a network of 250+ Enterprise Ireland funded centres and hubs across the Republic of Ireland.

Formally established in 2008 and drawing together a number of pre-existing regional networks, NACEC’s primary role is to support and develop the interests of community enterprise on a national basis.

Enterprise centres nationally are positioned as key drivers of Enterprise Ireland’s Powering the Regions Strategy and meet a number of key objectives in communities, including the provision of physical space for entrepreneurs, start-ups, scaling companies, SMEs and a balance of small scale FDI while also delivering capability and capacity for enterprise promotion at community level.

Independent research carried out on behalf on NACEC in 2019 showed that NACEC members offer well in excess of 500,000 square feet / 46,452 square metres of accommodation; host over 1,800 businesses and support 5,500+ jobs in the regions.

Additionally, 76% of these centres provided a range of support services to the wider enterprise community (i.e. non-tenant businesses) in their regions.

Enterprise centres and hubs are much more than physical locations accommodating remote workers. They are conduits for entrepreneurship, enterprise creation and innovation across communities; playing an integral role  in developing and sustaining the startup / scaleup pipeline.