ACORNS Programme for Early Stage Female Entrepreneurs in Rural Ireland

ACORNS

ACORNS Programme aimed at Early Stage Female Entrepreneurs in Rural Ireland



Early stage female entrepreneurs, living in rural Ireland, are invited to apply for a fully funded place on a new pilot initiative, ACORNS. The intention is to provide up to 48 entrepreneurs with the knowledge, support and networking opportunities to meet and even exceed their current aspirations.

ACORNS is dedicated to seeking out and assisting up to 50 start-up female entrepreneurs living in rural areas as defined by CEDRA - the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas. These are all areas of the country outside the administrative city boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

As ACORNS is fully funded under the CEDRA 2015 Rural Innovation and Development Fund through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, there is no charge for successful participants. Their costs at the residential elements of the programme are also covered.

There is no restriction on the sector in which the new business is focused.

However, the selection process is competitive. If you are a suitable female entrepreneur who might be interested in applying for the ACORNS programme, you can access information and register your interest at www.acorns.ie.

Application forms will be sent to interested applicants immediately. The deadline for receipt of completed applications is Friday 11 September 2015 and the pilot programme will begin on the 30th September, at the ACORNS residential Development Forum in Portlaoise, Co. Laois.

The programme will run from September 2015 until March 2016. Selected participants will be those who, on a competitive basis, best demonstrate their potential to advance their businesses and their commitment to fully engage in the initiative. If you would like to find out more about the initiative or have any questions about ACORNS please feel free to contact them at info@acorns.ie or phone the office at 01 8450770.

To register your interest in the ACORNS programme click here