Deadline looms for returning emigrants to sign up to Government support programme

Returning emigrants who want to start or develop a business have until Friday (January 16th) to apply for a free government business development programme.

The Back for Business programme will provide them with expert mentorship and business support for six months. 

There are up to 50 places available to support emigrant entrepreneurs who have returned to Ireland or who are thinking about doing so in the near future.  

It will run from February to June 2026, and there is no charge for those who are successful in getting on the programme.  

The Launch Forum and first round-table event will take place on February 13th.

This development programme, which is funded by the Irish Abroad Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was created to foster and support entrepreneurial activity among Irish emigrants returning to live in Ireland.  

It is aimed at those who lived abroad for at least a year and have returned in the last three years or those planning on returning soon.

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 a number of years.  

Those who completed last year's programme were very positive in their feedback, with 100% saying they would recommend it to others and would like to stay in contact with the Back to Business community.  

At the start of the cycle, under half of the group were trading, but over the course of the programme, it increased to over two-thirds.

The combined turnover of the participants was €1,425,000 at the start of the cycle.

By the end, this had increased to €2,594,000 while employment numbers increased from 29 to 80 during the six months. 

Those selected to join Back to Business 9 will take part in round table sessions focused on goals and milestones, which are facilitated by voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs who have experience in successfully growing a business. 

This year’s Lead Entrepreneurs are: Gillian O’Dowd, Director at Azon; Paul Duggan of The Gardiner Group; Seamus Reilly, co-founder and formerly of Critical Healthcare; Sinéad Doherty, founder and CEO of Fenero; and Thomas Ennis, founder of the Thomas Ennis Group.

Back for Business, past participant Jennifer Provan, Kitchenetta Catering, who was based in Glasgow before returning to Ireland, said: “Back for Business was very collaborative and very supportive.

"We gleaned a lot of knowledge from each other and our Lead Entrepreneur, a lot of which we’ve gone on to use.

"I would highly recommend it. I really enjoyed every minute of it, and I know that all of my group did as well, and we’re all very much in touch since and still supporting each other.

"It’s been seriously advantageous.”

Aoife Matthews, was based in Madrid when she co-founded SISTERLY, a female supplement company, alongside Jennifer O' Connell and Louise O'Riordan.

She is very clear about the importance of that early support.  Aoife says: “One of the best decisions I made when I began my entrepreneurial journey was joining the Back for Business programme.

"Having spent most of my career outside of Ireland, the programme provided not only structure and guidance, but also a collaborative community of ambitious founders.”

The deadline for completed applications for Back to Business 9 is midnight on Friday, January 16th, 2025.

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