Joanne Hession’s Entrepreneurs Academy – Celebrates 25 Years in Business
12th September 2024
The Entrepreneurs Academy is proud to celebrate 25 years of empowering individuals and businesses through innovative training and development programs across Ireland. Over the past quarter-century, the Academy has equipped over 100,000 entrepreneurs, enabling them to start, grow, and scale their businesses.
Lorraine Bowen, CEO commented “We are thrilled to celebrate 25 years of empowering entrepreneurs and fostering innovation! Every day, we have the privilege of working with brave, expansive, inspirational, and courageous individuals who are making a real difference.
This milestone isn’t just about our longevity; it’s a testament to the impactful partnerships that have fuelled our mission to drive equitable entrepreneurship and economic growth across Ireland.
Here’s to the incredible journey so far and the exciting road ahead!”
Scaling Impact Through Corporate Partnerships with AIB
One of the Academy’s most successful corporate collaborations has been with AIB, a partnership that has consistently delivered exceptional results. Together, we have scaled impact across various sectors.
We enhanced the skills and levels of ambition of hundreds of female entrepreneurs through the Women in Enterprise Programme. Working with the team at AIB and participants such as Monica Buckley, Co-Founder of The Fresh Fish Deli, and Cliona Molloy, Director at McKeon Group, we are delighted that so many have benefited significantly from this initiative.
Significant impact was also achieved through the AIB Start Up Academy Initiative, involving a roadshow of 90 start-up bootcamp events delivered nationwide by The Entrepreneurs Academy in close partnership with the team at AIB.
Bord na Móna – New Beginnings: Positive Transitions Through Partnership
The Entrepreneurs Academy collaborated closely with Bord Na Móna, LOETB and Hartley People Training to create the New Beginnings programme, a transformative initiative designed to support employees transitioning from traditional roles at Bord Na Móna into entrepreneurial ventures. Through tailored workshops, mentoring, and practical business training, the programme empowered participants to explore new career pathways, develop business ideas, and gain the skills necessary to launch their own enterprises following long careers at Bord Na Móna.
Inner City Enterprise: Impacting Social Enterprise & Marginalised Communities
The Entrepreneurs Academy’s partnership with Inner City Enterprise (ICE) underscores our dedication to fostering social enterprises and uplifting marginalised communities. Through this collaboration, the Academy has provided vital support, training, and mentorship to individuals from underserved backgrounds, equipping them with the entrepreneurial skills needed to launch and grow socially impactful businesses.
Projects have focused on supporting young entrepreneurs, migrants and refugees, and social enterprises, with many positive role models generated within these communities to role model success into the future.
Local Enterprise Offices & Enterprise Ireland: Everyday Impact Through Local Partnerships
The Entrepreneurs Academy’s collaborative relationships with Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and Enterprise Ireland lie at the core of our commitment to driving local economic impact and fostering entrepreneurship at all levels. Working closely with Heads of Enterprise and their teams we deliver a wide array of programs tailored to meet the needs of budding entrepreneurs and established business owners alike.
Start Your Own Business programmes are the core of what we do, but these programmes are ever-changing in direct response to emerging technologies, challenges within the business environment and in seeking to make them increasingly equitable and accessible to the widest range of learners.
From foundational workshops like “Start Your Own Business” to specialised training in Finance, Sales, and Technology, our initiatives are designed to equip participants with the essential skills and knowledge needed to succeed.
Looking Ahead
As the Entrepreneurs Academy celebrates this significant milestone, we remain committed to our mission of empowering individuals and businesses through continued partnerships, innovative programs, and a steadfast dedication to entrepreneurial excellence. Here’s to the next 25 years of transforming ideas and dreams into thriving businesses within every town and village in Ireland.
Pictured (l-r): Lorraine Bowen, CEO; Noel Davidson, Head of Training & Strategic Partnerships, and Joanne Hession, Founder & Director of Entrepreneurs Academy.
