Little Sprouts Garden Box, a small business based in Ardee dedicated to fostering a love of nature and gardening in children, has been awarded one of the prestigious Three Ireland Grants for Small Businesses. Founded by Jessica Bourke, Little Sprouts Garden Box brings sustainable, hands-on gardening activity kits to children across Ireland, providing educational activities that families can enjoy together.
Little Sprouts Garden Box grew from Jessica’s lifelong love of gardening. Her passion for plants and nature took root as she watched her grandparents and mother build their lives around gardening through establishing the Dundalk Garden Centre. Now, as a parent herself, Jessica felt inspired by her daughter, Ellie, to pass this joy along to a new generation.
“As a parent, I know the struggle of balancing screen time with meaningful activities. With Little Sprouts Garden Box, I wanted to create something both educational and fun that parents and kids can do together,” said Jessica Bourke, founder of Little Sprouts Garden Box.”
Little Sprouts Garden Box offers a range of seasonal gardening kits packed with organic seeds, peat-free compost, kid-sized tools, and easy-to-follow instructions designed for children aged 3 and up. Each box includes seasonal organic seeds, engaging activities, and recipes that bring the gardening experience full circle. These activities help kids develop fine motor skills, responsibility, patience, and even introduce STEM concepts in a hands-on way.
Winning the Three Ireland Grant for Small Business will enable Little Sprouts Garden Box to reach more families, invest in more eco-friendly materials, and expand its educational offerings.
“This grant will allow us to spread the joy of gardening to more families across Ireland, helping them connect with nature in a meaningful way,” added Jessica.
Visit LittleSproutsGardenBox.com to learn more about the seasonal garden kits and join the growing community of young gardeners across Ireland.
Three Ireland have chosen 10 winners of the 2024 Grants for Small Businesses Programme which sees the business secure a portion of the €100,000 bursary.
The award for the Three Grant for Small Businesses Programme, funded by Three Ireland and managed by the small business network and support provider, Enterprise Nation, comprises of a €5,000 cash prize, €5,000 worth of device and connectivity solutions, as well as mentoring and ongoing support from Three Ireland’s in-house business experts.
As part of an initiative that was introduced within the programme last year, the top 20 shortlisted applicants will also receive expertise sessions from Three who will provide guidance across business-critical areas including sustainability, procurement, social media, marketing, and public relations.
Little Sprouts Garden Box was one of 10 winners of this year’s Three Grant for Small Businesses award, alongside other recipients of the award including Livefarm, shareclub and Tao Climate which showcase innovative business ideas from a wide range of industries and sectors including healthcare, sustainability, the arts and education
The programme, which is now in its fourth year, has provided Irish SMEs with an investment of over €650,000 by Three since 2021 across products and services, advertising and PR support, as well as access to industry expertise.
Padraig Sheerin, Head of SME, Three Ireland said: “The Grant for Small Businesses programme has been one of the highlight initiatives for Three Ireland over the last four years and we are very proud of how it has developed during this time. For the fourth year running, Three has partnered with Enterprise Nation on this, which will help provide vital supports to these businesses who continue to make huge strides on their journeys.
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“Applicants to this year’s programme showcased excellent credentials and aspirations– all while reaffirming the strong entrepreneurial talent we have in this country. While the calibre of the competition this year has been exceptional, we are delighted to award Little Sprouts Garden Box this prize and we look forward to seeing Jessica and the team achieve continued success in the future.”
Sonya Lennon, judge for Three Ireland’s Grant for Small Businesses and Entrepreneur and Advocate for Workplace Equality, said: “This programme has been a constant privilege for me over the last few years, and a true pleasure to watch it grow from strength to strength each year. As a judge I’m fortunate to see firsthand the innovative businesses that are soon to be propelled to success – those with a creative vision and a passion for change.
“The supports offered through this programme cannot be understated, as they have the potential to transform a business on its journey of success. A testament to Three Ireland, alongside the strong entrepreneurial spirit that is central to the Irish culture, that the volume of applications continues to increase, showcasing the demand and appetite for business in Ireland. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Little Sprouts Garden Box on their brilliant win and wish them every success for the future.”