Alison McMurtrie encourages Longford people to apply for Back for Business

Back for Business, the free government programme that helps returned emigrants start and develop businesses in Ireland, is now open to applications.
Now in its eighth cycle, the programme is seeking offers of interest from people who have recently returned to Longford or are still living abroad but thinking of returning in the near future.

Those eligible to apply include returned Irish emigrants who have lived abroad for at least a year and have returned to Ireland in the last three years, and emigrants currently living abroad who are planning to return to Ireland in the near future.

The 8th cycle of the programme will run from February to June 2025 and there is no charge for those selected to participate. Up to 50 places will be available nationally. Eligible candidates have until Thursday, January 16, to submit their applications. Those interested can apply through www.backforbusiness.com.

Funded by the Irish Abroad Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs, the programme was created to foster and support entrepreneurial activity among emigrants recently returned to Ireland.
Since launching in 2017, Back for Business has helped entrepreneurs who are returned emigrants to significantly grow sales and employment. It also addresses challenges that all early-stage

entrepreneurs encounter, but also focuses on additional barriers faced by emigrants who have been living away from Ireland.
Participants on the last cycle, Back for Business 7, quadrupled their collective turnover from €300,000 at the start of the programme to €1.2million at its conclusion. Their collective employee numbers also increased from 14 to 47 during the cycle.
Back for Business 8 participants will take part in round table sessions focused on goals and milestones, which are facilitated by voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs who have experience of successfully starting and growing a business.

The 8th cycle’s Lead Entrepreneurs are: serial entrepreneur Hannah Wrixon; Morgan Browne, CEO of Milner Browne and Enterpryze; Paul Duggan of The Gardiner Group; Seamus Reilly, co-founder and formerly of Critical Healthcare; Sinead Doherty, founder and CEO of Fenero; and Thomas Ennis, founder of the Thomas Ennis Group.

Former participants from Longford include Alison McMurtrie of Idunn Consulting which helps companies develop strategic plans to aid business growth.
Alison hails the Back for Business programme for linking her with a network of fellow entrepreneurs, connections which she would otherwise have struggled to foster after so many years living abroad.

“We have a very active chat in which we support and bounce ideas off each other. And the sessions were really helpful, whether that’s the legal content or setting KPIs from KPMG. When I moved back my problem was a lack of a network. I didn’t know anyone. Back for Business opened a lot of doors.”

Back for Business Lead Entrepreneur Thomas Ennis says: “I was lucky enough to receive excellent mentoring when I was starting out and it made all the difference. It is great to be in a position to give back and to support those at the start of their entrepreneurial journey.”

The deadline for completed applications for Back to Business 8 is midnight on Thursday, January 16, 2025. For more information or to register your interest in receiving an application form, please see www.backforbusiness.com