EMIGRANTS from Limerick who have returned home, or are thinking about returning, to start a business are encouraged to apply for the latest round of government support aimed at encouraging people to return to Ireland and set up a business.
The Back for Business programme is a free government initiative that helps returned or returning emigrants to set up a business in Ireland.
50 places are available on the programme, which will feature round table discussions, and focuses on challenges that all new entrepreneurs face, as well as the additional barriers that not having lived in Ireland for some years raises.
Limerick man Gareth Cash, of Crew Brewing on Thomas Street, is a past participant of the programme and said that the support was invaluable when setting up his business.
“Back for Business provided an incredibly valuable structure, information, accountability, and networking opportunities that we really needed to ensure the long term success of our business strategy,” Mr Cash said.
“I’m so grateful to the whole team at Back for Business for everything they do.”
Last year’s participants in Back for Business increased their combined workforce by 17, and almost tripled their combined turnover from €632,000 up to €1.7million.
This year’s lead entrepreneurs are Hannah Wrixon and Paul Coyle; Morgan Browne, CEO of Milner Browne and Enterpryze; Paul Duggan of The Gardiner Group; Seamus Reilly, co-founder and formerly of Critical Healthcare; and Thomas Ennis, founder of the Thomas Ennis Group.
Applications are open until January 15, with the Back for Business programme running from February to June.
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora, Seán Fleming, said: “Since 2018, Back for Business has helped large numbers of returning emigrants to seed and nurture their business ideas.”
“I would encourage people with a business idea who might be thinking of coming home – or have returned recently – to apply for selection,” the Minister of State concluded.
Anyone interested in applying for Back for Business can do so on backforbusiness.com.
