Free government programme for returning emigrants looking for applicants

A free government programme that helps returned emigrants start and develop businesses in Ireland is looking for applicants for its latest cycle.

This is the sixth year of the Back for Business programme and there are up to 50 places available to support those have returned to Ireland – or are thinking about it – and have or want to start a business here.

The Back for Business developmental programme, which is funded from the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme, was created to foster and support entrepreneurial activity among emigrants returning to live in Ireland. The call for this year’s applications was launched by Colm Brophy T.D. Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora.

Back for Business 6 will run from the end of January to June 2023. There is no charge for those selected to participate and the closing date for applications is Friday January 6th 2023.

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 in the near future. It addresses challenges that all early-stage entrepreneurs encounter, but also focuses on the additional barriers faced by those who have been living outside Ireland for some years.

Participants on last year’s programme increased their combined workforce by 76 per cent and more than doubled (107 per cent) their turnover during the cycle – despite the restrictions placed on businesses as a result of the Covid pandemic.

Those selected to join Back for Business 6 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.

This year’s Lead Entrepreneurs are: Hannah Wrixon, founder of WrkWrk, formerly known as Get the Shifts; Morgan Browne, CEO of Milner Browne and Enterpryze; Paul Duggan of The Gardiner Group; Seamus Reilly, co-founder and formerly of Critical Healthcare; 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.

Those interested in learning more about applying for Back for Business 6 can download a brochure and register their interest in receiving an application form by visiting www.backforbusinness.com

Colm Brophy T.D. Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, said:

“Back for Business has been a great success in supporting new businesses founded by returning emigrants across Ireland. New businesses generate economic activity and additional employment across the country.

“I welcome the establishment of a Back for Business Community offering additional support to past participants to further develop their new enterprises. Past participants have made significant progress and I am proud of their achievements.

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 Friday January 6th 2023. For more information or to register your interest in receiving an application form, please see www.backforbusiness.com

For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Paula Fitzsimons on +353 87 2774385 or Martha Kearns at StoryLab on +353 87 2720212

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Back for Business:

It was designed and developed for the Department of Foreign Affairs by Paula Fitzsimons of Fitzsimons Consulting.

Back for Business is being implemented by Fitzsimons Consulting, specialists in areas related to entrepreneurship and growth. This is the sixth year of the programme.

A Back for Business Community is being formed for previous participants, who will be offered workshops, round-table reviews and an annual Community Forum.

Eligibility criteria

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 2020.

If acquired, it will not have been acquired before this date.

In respect of the business whether new or acquired, they will be a major shareholder and key decision-maker in the venture. Furthermore, they will have the ambition and expectation of becoming an employer of others within three years.

There is no restriction on the sector in which the new business is focused.

Preference will be given to those who have returned to Ireland.

Lead Entrepreneurs: This year’s Lead Entrepreneurs are listed in the release above. Mini bios of the Lead Entrepreneurs may be found on the website https://www.backforbusiness.com/