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 to Galway 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 eighth 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. Eligible candidates have until Thursday, January 16, to submit their applications. Those interested can apply through www.backforbusiness.com
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 €1.2million at its conclusion. Their collective employee numbers also increased from 14 to 47 during the cycle.
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; and 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 Co. Galway include Orlaith Kilgannon, Robbie Reeve and Ronan Purcell. Having experienced at first hand the benefits of participation in Back for Business, they encourage others to apply for the programme.
Orlaith Kilgannon is the Director and Specialist Physiotherapist of Pelvic Health West. Based in Oranmore, Pelvic Health West provides specialist physiotherapy and Pilates for women to prevent and manage symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. On the Back for Business programme, Orlaith found that the peer support from other participants who were having similar experiences was a great help to her. “My experience in Back for Business working with a diverse range of entrepreneurs has allowed me to structure both short and long-term realistic and achievable goals to scale my business. Surrounded by those who had also returned home in recent years and experienced similar challenges was comforting. Long term, I will grow my own team but my Back for Business team have inspired me to keep dreaming and believing in my vision for Pelvic Health West and women’s health in the future.”
Robbie Reeve first learned of the restorative powers of saunas and ice baths after developing a keen interest in endurance athletics during his 12-year spell living in China. Robbie set up Wild Irish Saunas, a company selling a range of saunas and ice baths for both indoors and outdoors, from his home in Galway shortly after returning to Ireland in 2022. He says: “I found the programme very helpful. It was great to have people to bounce ideas off and having a Lead Entrepreneur as a mentor, someone who has developed a successful business, was inspiring. I would recommend Back for Business to anyone.”
Ronan Purcell and his wife decided to move back to Ireland in 2021 when the eldest of their three sons was ready to start school. Ronan set up Fort Energy, a specialist energy advisor and renewable energy developer. Ronan says: “Back for Business is an excellent programme that provides invaluable support, advice and a test bed to progress your business to the next stage. As an entrepreneur, you are given an opportunity to pitch, and stress test your products to a diverse, supportive and insightful group on a monthly basis which gives your start-up an edge going to market. The Lead Entrepreneur was excellent, and it is such a unique and privileged opportunity to get so much time with them.”
Back for Business Lead Entrepreneur Thomas Ennis says:
“I was lucky enough to receive excellent mentoring when I was starting out and it made all the difference. It is great to be in a position to give back and to support those at the start of their entrepreneurial journey.”
Back for Business has been designed and is being implemented by Fitzsimons Consulting, specialists in areas related to entrepreneurship and growth.
The deadline for completed applications for Back to Business 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
