Back for Business, the free government programme that helps returned emigrants start and develop businesses in Ireland, is now open to applications.
Now in its eighth cycle, the programme is seeking offers of interest from people who have recently returned home or are still living abroad, but thinking of returning in the near future.
Those eligible to apply include returned Irish emigrants who have lived abroad for at least a year and have returned to Ireland in the last three years, and emigrants currently living abroad who are planning to return to Ireland in the near future.
The 8th cycle of the programme will run from February to June 2025 and there is no charge for those selected to participate. Up to 50 places will be available nationally and eligible candidates have until Thursday, January 16, to submit their applications.
HELPING ADDRESS CHALLENGES
Funded by the Irish Abroad Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs, the programme was created to foster and support entrepreneurial activity among emigrants recently returned to Ireland.
Since launching in 2017, Back for Business has helped entrepreneurs who are returned emigrants to significantly grow sales and employment. It also addresses challenges that all early-stage entrepreneurs encounter, but also focuses on additional barriers faced by emigrants who have been living away from Ireland.
Participants on the last cycle, Back for Business 7, quadrupled their collective turnover from €300,000 at the start of the programme to €1.2 million at its conclusion. Their collective employee numbers also increased from 14 to 47 during the cycle.
NETWORK OF PEERS
Back for Business 8 participants will take part in round table sessions focused on goals and milestones, which are facilitated by voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs who have experience of successfully starting and growing a business.
The 8th cycle’s Lead Entrepreneurs are serial entrepreneur Hannah Wrixon; Morgan Browne, CEO of Milner Browne and Enterpryze; Paul Duggan of The Gardiner Group; Seamus Reilly, co-founder and formerly of Critical Healthcare; Sinead Doherty, founder and CEO of Fenero, along with Thomas Ennis, founder of the Thomas Ennis Group.
A Back for Business Community is also being formed for previous participants, who will be offered workshops, review round tables and an annual Community Forum.
Former participants from county Cork include Brian O’Driscoll, Killian O’Keeffe and Tom O’Brien. Having experienced at first hand the benefits of participation in Back for Business, they are now encouraging others to apply for the programme.
Originally from Farran in county Cork, Killian O’Keeffe spent ten years living and working in Germany and Spain before returning to live in his native county. He soon set up a business, Ruby Reese, with his partner. The business sources and produces food, treats, nutritional supplements and grooming products for dogs with allergies or other sensitivities.
“I have benefitted greatly from the Back for Business programme and the guidance of our Lead Entrepreneur and all of the other participants has helped transform our young company,” Killian sais. “We have strengthened our core values, launched a great new product, doubled our customer pipeline and gained a far better sense of direction for where our brand needs to go”.
“Additionally, the programme has provided us with an invaluable network of trusted peer advisors in our group of budding entrepreneurs and shown us the path to further resources available in Ireland such as the Local Enterprise Office and Enterprise Ireland. I would highly recommend this programme to other recently returned entrepreneurs.”
Back for Business has been designed and is being implemented by Fitzsimons Consulting, specialists in areas related to entrepreneurship and growth. A reminder that the deadline for completed applications for programme 8 is midnight on Thursday, January 16th, 2025.
For more information or to register your interest in receiving an application form, please see www.backforbusiness.com
