But for Laura McDermott there is a positive side – as she believes the country has a huge amount to gain from those people who decide to return home with the skills they’ve picked up abroad.
She spent a decade in Madrid before coming home in 2022 and setting up her company Colectivo.
Colectivo, based in both Dublin and Madrid, is a consultancy group made up of sustainability professionals who help businesses understand and address their sustainability situations.
Ms McDermott said moving to Spain came with learning a new culture, language and way of doing business – and moving home came with a similar learning curve.
“I had become so accustomed to working in that environment that when I came home I had to learn all over again. It’s a weird feeling because you speak the same language and grew up in the same place,” she said.
Emigrants who have returned or are planning to return to Ireland to start a business have until Thursday to apply to a Government support programme.
The Back for Business programme is free of charge for those selected to take part and is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Irish Abroad Unit.
50 places are available on the programme, which will run from February to June and provide the entrepreneurs involved with expert mentorship and support for their businesses.
Ms McDermott, originally from Dunboyne, Co Meath, took part in the sixth cycle of the programme.
“Back for Business was great because bringing a different perspective back home is great but you do have to learn how business is done in Ireland again.”
She said the roundtable format of the programme helped facilitate “intimate” conversations around what supports are available to businesses in Ireland that someone returning home might not be aware of.
“It saved hundreds of hours of time on research of those things and also helped build up connections and friendships. I have people from Back for Business who I consider friends and have helped me build my business in new ways. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.”
Coming back from a country that is a few years ahead of Ireland on sustainability, Back for Business has helped her bring that expertise home in a way that’s suited to the Irish market.
“There’s a paralysis by analysis sometimes around decisions in this country. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel because there are other countries close to home who are doing this really well.
“Back for Business was so worthwhile for me and my business because of the people. It’s all people-centric, connecting with people who are on the programme, and making those connections has been one of the best outcomes.”
Meanwhile Killian O’Keeffe, who was part of the most recent cycle of the programme, launched Ruby Reese alongside his partner Chris in May 2022
The company, named after their French Bulldog Ruby, sources and makes food, treats, supplements and grooming products for dogs with allergies or other sensitivities. The idea was inspired by Ruby’s difficulties with allergies.
A native of Farran, Co Cork, Mr O’Keeffe spent most of his 10 years abroad living in Munich before moving back in 2021. He said a culture shock is to be expected when you leave home, but the shock of returning home can be just as big.
Cork native Killian O’Keeffe set up allergy-friendly dog care brand Ruby Reese in 2022.
“You expect to come back to the Ireland that you left and if you left in your mid-20s like I did, you expect to move back in your mid-30s and all of your friends are in the same place,” he said.
“Having Back for Business was great because it’s a community of people that had just recently moved back to Ireland as well. You expect culture shock when you move home but you don’t expect reverse culture shock.”
On the personal side of things, Mr O’Keeffe said it was great to be in an environment with other returning emigrants
“There were eight of us in the group and we shared so many personal experiences. I don’t have children but childcare was a topic that came up for so many and they were shocked that Ireland had a childcare problem all of a sudden.
“Being able to identify with people moving back was great and helped us integrate into a different Ireland to the one that we left. It’s brilliant to hear from someone else and bond over this shared experience of moving back and setting up a business.”
As for the business end of things, Back for Business provided a collaborative space where new business owners could bounce ideas off each other.
“We all gave each other ideas and held each other accountable,” Mr O’Keeffe said. “Meeting every month over the six-month programme, it was great to be able to catch up and we were always excited to hear how the others were getting on.”
Applications for this year’s Back for Business programme close on Thursday, January 16 at 5pm. Details of how to apply are available at www.backforbusiness.com.
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