In the photo from left to right, Ciara McGuane, Shayne Murphy and Julie Currid
Returned emigrants encouraged to join programme supporting entrepreneurs to start and develop businesses in Ireland
The call for applicants for Back for Business, an initiative to help returned emigrants start and develop businesses in Ireland is currently open. This is the third year of the highly successful developmental programme, which is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. There is no charge for those selected to participate.
The initiative was established to support entrepreneurial activity among returned emigrants who have lived abroad for at least a year and have returned in the last three years. Those planning to return in the near future will also be considered.
Applicants will (i) have recently started a new business in Ireland, either on their own or with another business partner, or (ii) will be well advanced in their plans to start a business and have moved well beyond the concept stage, or (ii) they are becoming/have become entrepreneurs through the acquisition of an existing business.
If the business is newly established, it will not have generated sales before the end of October 2017.If acquired, it will not have been acquired before this date. There is no restriction on the sector in which the new business is focussed.
The closing date for applications is January 7, 2020. Those interested in learning more can download a brochure and register their interest in receiving an application form from www.backforbusiness.com.
Last year, the 38 participants on the programme reported positive results, including:
- Turnover for all participants combined increased by over 70% during the six months of the programme to a total of €1.3m
- A total of 48 new jobs were created by the participants who now employ 89 people between them
- 92% said they felt nearer to achieving their ambitions having participated.
Included among these was Ciara McGuane of Rahoo who says about Back for Business: It is a fantastic initiative to support returned Irish emigrants and help them develop their business concept.
You can read Ciara’s story on this link https://www.backforbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/BfB-Profile-CIARA-MCGUANE-NEW.pdf
Those selected to join Back for Business this year will take part in round table sessions, focused on goals and milestones and facilitated by voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs, who have experience of successfully starting and growing a business.
This year’s Lead Entrepreneurs are: Áine Denn, co-founder of Altify; Brian Crowley, Broadlake and founder of TTM Healthcare; Micheal Hoyne, founder of Merlyn Showering; Morgan Browne of Milner Browne; and Thomas Ennis, founder of the Thomas Ennis Group.
Visit www.backforbusiness.com for more information.
