Some 50 returned and returning emigrants with plans to start or develop a business in Ireland met today (February 11th) for the first day of Back for Business 8.
This is the eighth year of the government-supported development programme which provides those participants who have been selected for the initiative with expert mentorship and business support for six months.
Neale Richmond, TD, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora attended the first day of Back for Business 8 in Dublin today. The programme is funded by the Irish Abroad Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs, and was created to foster and support entrepreneurial activity among Irish emigrants returning to live in Ireland.
Participants are returning from locations all over the world with the majority from the UK, Australia and the U.S. Some 75 per cent of this year’s group are locating their new businesses outside of Dublin.
Over the next six months, 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. As a lack of professional and personal networks remains the number one challenge for those returning to Ireland, today’s event was a welcome opportunity for the participants to meet peers and network.