Applications for Back for Business programme now open for people in Tipperary

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 Tipperary 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.

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The 8th 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. Tipperary include Dr David Cosgrave who returned to Ireland from Abu Dhabi in 2020 to set up his business, the Exam Performance Institute, in Clonmel. While abroad, David worked as a professor in Abu Dhabi University where he taught Digital Marketing. It was this experience, together with having lectured at universities in Ireland, that prompted David to create the Exam Performance Institute to teach correct exam technique to students.

David said: “Back for Business has been fantastic. I applied for the programme to help commit fully to my business and where I wanted it to go. Our Lead Entrepreneur was excellent. He challenged me to think bigger and always gave great advice on how to get there. I was delighted with the high calibre of people in my group. It was great sharing my experiences with others, who were going through similar situations, and being able to get their input into my decisions.”

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

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