Last Call to Apply for Back for Business Programme
21st January 2021
The closing date for an initiative to help returned or returning emigrants start and develop businesses in Ireland is next Monday (January 25th).
The Back for Business entrepreneur mentoring programme, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, runs over six months from February to July 2021. There is no charge for those selected to participate.
As the programme will be delivered virtually this year, it will allow those who have not yet returned to Ireland to participate in the initiative.
This is the fourth year of the highly-successful developmental programme, the latest cycle of which was launched in December by Colm Brophy T.D. Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora.
Past participants on the first three years of the programme have recorded increased sales, created new jobs, and won export contracts. The combined turnover of the 2020 group tripled during the programme – despite the Covid pandemic.
The Back for Business initiative was established to foster and support entrepreneurial activity among returned emigrants or those returning to live in Ireland. It addresses the challenges that all early-stage entrepreneurs encounter – as well as the additional barriers faced by those who have been living outside the country for some time.
Back for Business is aimed at those who have lived abroad for at least a year and have returned in the last three years or those planning to return to live in Ireland in the coming year. (Eligibility criteria applies).
There are places this year for up to 40 entrepreneurs to participate for the first time in Back for Business, with an additional ten places being made available on a further development phase for those who completed a cycle previously. Those interested in learning more can download a brochure and register their interest in receiving an application form by logging on here>>
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 is Monday, January 25, 2021.
