A number of 50+ budding entrepreneurs from Mayo were among 65 seniors in attendance at a start-your-own-business workshop that took place in Portlaoise this week.
As part of the Senior Entrepreneurs initiative, which encourages more Irish people aged 50 and over to start their own businesses, a tailored Start Your Own Business programme took place over two days (May 8 and 9 ) in the County Laois town, with the aim of helping the budding entrepreneurs turn their new enterprise ideas into viable start-ups.
Organisers at the County and City Enterprise Boards and Senior Enterprise are already planning a second workshop later in the year, to cater for the unexpectedly high demand for places.
Noting that 14 per cent of all early stage entrepreneurs in Ireland during 2011 were people aged between 50 and 64, John Byrne from Senior Enterprise suggests that this figure could be significantly increased.
“Clearly there is considerable untapped entrepreneurial potential among those aged 50 or over in Ireland. The purpose behind the Senior Entrepreneurs initiative is to encourage and support those wishing to turn a solid idea for a business into a new start-up company.”
During the Start Your Own Business programme, the 65 participants learned how to assess the feasibility of their business idea, how to develop practical skills for achieving business goals, and how to get to grips with social media and online marketing. The Senior Entrepreneurs programme also addressed the issue of succession planning and exit strategies.
Sheelagh Daly from the County and City Enterprise Boards said: “From previous Start Your Own Business programmes run throughout the County and City Enterprise Board regions, we would expect at least 30 of our workshop participants to successfully set up a new business over the next 18 months; and when they do, they can rely on further local enterprise supports to help them reach the next stage of their business.”
Senior Entrepreneurs is jointly organised by the County and City Enterprise Boards and Senior Enterprise, which is an INTERREG supported EU initiative.
Expressions of interest for the next Senior Entrepreneurs Start Your Own Business Programme can be e-mailed to [email protected] or by contacting the local County or City Enterprise Board through www.enterpriseboards.ie
