Are you an ambitious female entrepreneur who wants to significantly grow your business in 2013?
Are you interested in getting personal business advice from successful and established women entrepreneurs such as Mary McKenna, managing director of Tour America; Lulu O’Sullivan, founder and CEO of Giftsdirect.com; or Colette Twomey, CEO of Clonakilty Black Pudding?
If so, you need to apply for one of the 60 places available on the next Going for Growth programme which will get underway in January 2013. This business development initiative is designed to support women who are serious about growing their businesses and are the owner manager of a business which has been trading for at least two years. The programme, which involves a time commitment of one half-day a month for six months, is free of charge to suitable applicants.
Going for Growth pairs successful and established women entrepreneurs with businesswomen who are at an earlier stage of company development.The established entrepreneurs, known as Lead Entrepreneurs, act as role models to the early stage entrepreneurs and share their knowledge and experience with them on a completely voluntary basis.
Commenting on the Going for Growth approach, Westmeath entrepreneur, Anne Cusack, Critical Healthcare, describes the experience:
“Going for Growth is an invaluable forum which not only prompted me to critically analyse my business but which provided access to advice, discussions and practical ideas that I can apply to my business. It has introduced me to women in business who are willing to share their successes and failures so that I can push the boundaries and grow my business.”
This will be the fifth cycle of the extremely successful Going for Growth scheme and is being supported and funded by the Equality for Women Measure 2010-2013, which is financed by the European Social Fund (ESF ) and the Department of Justice and Equality, Enterprise Ireland and Bank of Ireland.
To date, four Going for Growth programmes have been completed and over 250 women, from all over the country and involved in a diverse range of businesses, have taken part since the pilot scheme in 2007. Most of the 60 participants in the most recent cycle of Going for Growth increased their turnover by an average of 25 per cent and seven became exporters for the first time. An additional 50 jobs were also created by participants, all achieved in the midst of a continuing recession.
Female entrepreneurs interested in applying for the next Going for Growth programme can access information and download application forms at www.goingforgrowth.com
The closing date for the receipt of applications is Wednesday January 16, 2013.
