A free government programme that helps returned emigrants start and develop businesses in Ireland, is now open to applications.
The Back for Business programme was created to foster and support entrepreneurial activity among emigrants recently returned to Ireland or that are still living abroad, but thinking of returning to Ireland.
This is the ninth year of the programme and those eligible have until Friday, January 16th to apply through www.backforbusiness.com
Back for Business has a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs who are returned emigrants to significant grow sales and increase employment. Since launching in 2017, the initiative has helped early-stage entrepreneurs address common challenges faced by emigrants who have been living away from Ireland. Some 100% of those who completed last year’s programme, Back for Business 8, reported they would recommend the programme to others and would like to stay in contact with the Back for Business community.
Participants on Back for Business 9 will meet once a month on a peer-supported round table, facilitated by voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs, who have experience of successfully starting and growing a business. Many of them have also lived abroad before returning to Ireland to start their business.
The upcoming programme will begin with a Launch Forum and round table event on February 13th and will conclude in June. Up to 50 places are available. This year’s Lead Entrepreneurs are Gillian O’Dowd, director at Azon; Paul Duggan of The Gardiner Group; Seamus Reilly, co-founder and formerly of Critical Healthcare; Sinéad Doherty, founder and CEO of Fenero; and Thomas Ennis, founder of the Thomas Ennis Group.
‘EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMME’
Former participants from Cork include Tom O’Brien, founder and CEO of Sprintmodo, a team effectiveness company that drives momentum by making it easy to do what the best teams do. Tom, who was a participant on Back for Business 3, says he found setting up his business in Ireland straightforward, and he feels that the support agencies here are doing a good job helping budding entrepreneurs.
“Back for Business is an exceptional programme that helps start-ups to learn from each other, guided by experienced Lead Entrepreneurs. It is a practical approach that gets results,” he said.
The programme, which is funded by the Irish Abroad Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is now seeking offers of interest from eligible candidates hoping to return or who have already returned. To qualify, applicants must be returned Irish emigrants who lived abroad for at least a year and have returned to Ireland in the last three years, or are currently living abroad with plans to return to Ireland in the near future. More information may be found at https://www.backforbusiness.com/
