Pictured launching the ACORNS programme are, from left: Larissa Feeney, founder and CEO of Accountant Online and one of this year’s voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs; Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Charlie McConalogue, TD; and former ACORNS participants Feena McBride of The Arty Fox and Niamh Dooley of BioSol. Photo: James Connolly

Female entrepreneurs wanted for ACORNS programme

The group of early-stage female entrepreneurs, who took part in the latest ACORNS programme, doubled their combined turnover to €3.1m in just six months. The announcement was made as the call was launched for applications for ACORNS 8, the innovative business development programme for female entrepreneurs in rural areas, now in its eighth year.

Combined turnover for the 48 companies who completed ACORNS 7 increased over the cycle from €1.5m in October 2021 to €3.1m by April 2022. The firms involved also increased their combined workforce over the cycle from 94 to 116 (19%), an increase of 22 new jobs in rural Ireland. The results are even more impressive given the disruption of the Covid-19 public health restrictions throughout the Christmas and New Year period and mirror the doubling of revenues for firms involved in ACORNS 6.

Early stage entrepreneurs who took part in the latest programme include Feena McBride, The Arty Fox and Niamh Dooley, BiaSol. They, like their fellow participants, are full of praise for the initiative and their experience of it.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Charlie McConalogue, launched the opening of the call for applications for the latest cycle ACORNS. The initiative is funded through the Rural Innovation and Development Fund by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). The deadline for applications is midnight on Friday, September 23.

From the applications, up to 50 new early stage female entrepreneurs living in rural areas will be selected for the six-month programme which will run from October 2022 to April 2023. ACORNS receives well over 240 completed applications each year for the 50 places available, so those who apply will be selected on a competitive basis.

There is no charge for those participating in ACORNS, thanks to the continuing support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the voluntary contribution of time by the Lead Entrepreneurs.

The scheme is open to women based in rural Ireland who are at an advanced stage of starting a new business or who want to develop a recently-established existing venture. The intention of the programme is to provide them with the knowledge, support and networking opportunities to meet and exceed their current aspirations.

Participants learn from each other’s experiences through monthly roundtable discussions facilitated by Lead Entrepreneurs who are all female business people with first-hand experience of owning and managing a successful business in rural Ireland.

Each of the Lead Entrepreneurs give their time to the programme on a voluntary basis, as they believe in the philosophy of ‘entrepreneurs helping entrepreneurs’.

This year’s voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs are Anne Reilly, Paycheck Plus; Caroline Reidy, The HR Suite; Deirdre McGlone, Hospitality & Tourism Advisor; Eimer Hannon, Hannon Travel; Larissa Feeney, Accountant Online; Mary B Walsh, Ire Wel Pallets; Triona MacGiolla Rí, Aró Digital Strategies.

This is the eighth year of ACORNS and over 200 female entrepreneurs, who have previously successfully completed the cycle, are still involved in the ACORNS Community – taking part in ACORNS Plus, as well as attending topic-based workshops and networking opportunities; all of which are provided free of charge.