In communities across Ireland, many small and medium-sized businesses are facing a shared challenge: remote and hybrid employment is now the norm, but most managers were never trained to lead this way. In fact, research from Gallup – the world’s largest workplace survey – shows that only 3 in 10 hybrid leaders globally have received any formal training in remote management.
SMEs make up 99% of businesses in Ireland, catering for two thirds of Irish employees. For SME leaders, managing performance, communication and team cohesion at a distance can be particularly difficult – especially in agile organisations without large HR teams or formal leadership development structures. However, 2025 data from CIPD suggests that a significant number of Irish SMEs rely on flexible operating models to thrive.
To best support local businesses, Grow Remote, in partnership with Laois & Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB), has launched ‘Lead From Anywhere’, a fully-funded leadership training programme designed specifically for Irish businesses with flexible operating models.
In designing the course, Grow Remote interviewed managers in over 50 remote and hybrid companies throughout 2025, so the programme responds directly to the recent realities and challenges of Irish SMEs. The training is available to founders, leaders and managers currently based in the Republic of Ireland (to access funding, learners must hold a PPS number).
The 8-week course is delivered 100% online, beginning in the final week of February, and covers seven of the most essential topics for distributed leaders. Registrations are now open for the February cohort.
There are a limited number of fully-funded places on the 2026 programme. Full funding for the programme – worth €1,350 per head – is available on a first come, first served basis via www.growremote.ie. Multiple managers from a single business are permitted to enrol.
