Back for Business – Open for Business
27th November 2023
Back for Business is seeking applicants from returned and returning Irish emigrants who wish to start and develop businesses in Ireland.
They are invited to apply to participate in the development programme which is tailored to their needs. There is no cost to those selected.
The Back for Business programme was created in 2018 to foster and support entrepreneurial activity among Irish emigrants returning to Ireland. Now in its seventh year, Back for Business has helped entrepreneurs to significantly grow sales and employment.
This cycle will run from February to June 2024. The closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 15 January 2024.
The programme is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the fresh call for applicants was launched by Seán Fleming, TD, Minister of State with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora. He said: ‘Since 2018, Back for Business has helped large numbers of returning emigrants to seed and nurture their business ideas. I would encourage people with a business idea who might be thinking of coming home – or have returned recently – to apply for selection.’
Back for Business aims to benefit those who have lived abroad for at least a year and have returned in the last three years. It also includes those who are abroad and are soon to return. The cycle addresses challenges that all early-stage entrepreneurs encounter, but also focuses on additional barriers faced by emigrants who have been living away from Ireland.
Those interested in learning more about applying for Back for Business 7 can download a brochure and register their interest in receiving an application form by visiting www.backforbusiness.com.
Participants 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.
This year’s Lead Entrepreneurs are serial entrepreneur Hannah Wrixon; Morgan Browne, CEO of Milner Browne and Enterpryze; serial entrepreneur, Paul Coyle; Paul Duggan of The Gardiner Group; Seamus Reilly, co-founder and formerly of Critical Healthcare; and Thomas Ennis, founder of the Thomas Ennis Group.
Hannah Wrixon, one of the Back for Business voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs, said:
“I was lucky enough to receive excellent peer-to-peer support when I was starting out and developing my businesses 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 is 5pm on Monday 15th January 2024. For more information or to register your interest in receiving an application form, please see www.backforbusiness.com.
Pictured (L-R): Hannah Wrixon, Lead Entrepreneur, Seán Fleming, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora and recent participant Caroline Checkley Scott, Danu Heritage. (Image: Orla Murray/Coalesc).
