Going for Growth is inviting ambitious female owner managers to apply for the 19th cycle of the programme and join a thriving community of peers who can support them throughout their entire business journey.
The award-winning initiative begins with a six-month programme, but its support extends well beyond that first cycle.
Since its launch in 2008, more than 1,200 women have completed the programme, which is the route to being part of the wider Going for Growth community of female business leaders. Some have remained part of the community from the early stages of their business through expansion and ultimately to selling it.
More than 100 women attended a two-day Going for Growth Community Forum last week which saw contributions from many community members including Vanessa Creaven, co-founder Spotlight Oral Care, Louella Morton co-founder TestReach, Jeananne O’Brien, founder Artizan Food and Eatto, and Avril McCarthy, Derrycourt Cleaning Specialists, representing family businesses.
The energy of the gathering reflected the connections and shared ambition that continue long after the six months of the initial programme.
Applications open today for the 19th cycle of Going for Growth, which is supported by Enterprise Ireland, KPMG and Manverton. It is open to female business owner managers and entrepreneurs across all sectors and is free for those selected.
Some 60 places are available, and applications can be made until midnight, November 27. To request an application form, visit www.GoingforGrowth.com.
The cycle runs from January to June 2027, beginning with a one-day Launch Forum in Dublin on January 13. Participants will meet each other in person in small round-table groups every month.
The round tables are led by successful businesswomen who volunteer their time as Lead Entrepreneurs, sharing their experience in a spirit of altruism. This combination of experienced female entrepreneurs, the focus on peer learning and an on-going community sets Going for Growth apart. Participants work toward growth goals alongside women who understand the decisions and challenges involved in developing, growing and scaling a business.
Former Going for Growth participants account for NINE of this year’s 11 voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs, which is another indicator of the ongoing community aspect of the programme.
The nine former participants are Caroline Reidy, NFP HR Solutions, Chupi Sweetman-Durney, Chupi; Jeananne O’Brien, Artizan Food Co.; Leonora O’Brien, Blazer; Louella Morton, TestReach; Marissa Carter, Cocoa Brown; Oonagh O’Hagan, Meaghers Pharmacy Group; Tara Beattie, Prepsheets.com; and Vanessa Creaven, Spotlight Oral Care. They are joined by two other highly successful Lead Entrepreneurs: Susan Spence, Manverton, formerly SoftCo, and Fidelma McGuirk, Payslip.
Community members who have already completed Going for Growth can also apply for Continuing the Momentum, where Lead Entrepreneur-facilitated roundtables combine peer support with focused goals and milestones to help the participants pursue further growth. Áine Denn, Blazer and Fiona O’Carroll, NoNee, will lead two Continuing The Momentum round tables this year.
Jenny Melia, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, says:
“Enterprise Ireland is committed to increasing opportunities for women entrepreneurs and supporting them at every stage of their business journey. This includes working with colleagues and partners from across the ecosystem, to ensure we foster the skills, ambition, and talent, and ensure that Ireland is a great location to start and scale a business. That is why Enterprise Ireland is proud to continue our support for Going for Growth, a programme which supports women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and realise their growth ambitions.
“Over the past 18 cycles, this initiative has demonstrated its impact in helping women-led businesses to increase revenue, create employment, and expand into new markets, and I would encourage all eligible entrepreneurs to apply and to engage with the peer support, expert guidance, and leadership offered through this unique programme.”
Partner at KPMG, Olivia Lynch, says:
“Supporting female entrepreneurs as they build and scale their businesses remains a core priority for KPMG. Scaling in today’s market demands clarity of strategy, strong operational foundations, and smart, data driven decision making, especially as technology and AI continue to influence business. Through tailored KPMG workshops and the invaluable guidance of Lead Entrepreneurs, Going for Growth equips participants with the tools, network, and insights to scale with confidence and build resilient businesses for the future. We look forward to supporting the next cycle of ambitious female entrepreneurs in 2027.”
Going for Growth Lead Entrepreneur and Community Member Vanessa Creaven, co-founder of Spotlight Oral Care, says:
“As a dentist I didn’t have any formal business training when I set up Spotlight Oral Care, with my sister Lisa. Growth for Growth filled in the gaps and gave me the fundamentals on how to develop and grow a business. It’s been 10 years since I first participated in Going for Growth and I still speak to some of the entrepreneurs from that initial group. You really do develop a great network of women as part of the Going for Growth community. Also, the topic-based workshops can help if you are going through any growth, HR, operational or logistic issues. You can problem solve them as a group.”
Visit www.goingforgrowth.com to find out more and request an application form.