Back for Business scheme supports returning Irish emigrants

The Irish government has launched a new initiative to support Irish emigrants who wish to develop a business in Ireland.

Back for Business is a development programme aimed at both emigrants who have lived aboard for at least a year and have returned to Ireland in the last three years, or those currently living abroad who are looking to return in the near future.

The six month part-time programme will run from February to July 2019 and address the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development.

There will be a particular emphasis on the additional barriers faced by those who have been out of the country for some time including a lack of local knowledge and difficulty developing professional and personal networks and contacts bases.

The initiative emphasises that entrepreneurs can learn from each other and that those who have lived and worked abroad also bring with them significant advantages.

Their experience of living and working abroad will often give way to important advantages for starting a business here in Ireland, such as potential fluency in a foreign language, an international pool of contacts and a greater understanding of foreign markets.

Back for Business is funded through the Emigrant Support Programme by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which seeks to help in a practical way those who have left Ireland and wish to return home.

Minster for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Simon Coveney states, “Irish people who have traveled, or have spent a number of years outside the country often have exceptional entrepreneurial skills. The challenge is to maximise this potential for the benefit of the communities in which they are locating across the country”

Back for Business will provide the opportunity for up to 48 committed early stage entrepreneurs from across the country to take part.

Those who best demonstrate the potential to advance their business plans will be chosen to take part.

Those interested in applying for the scheme should visit www.backforbusiness.com to put forward their application before 25th January 2019.