€330,000 worth of funding has been announced for female entrepreneurs living in Cork and Limerick. The funding is intended to support women across these two counties who have a concrete business idea and wish to become self-employed or who are already in the early stages of business development. This funding is part of the Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN) project.

Speaking at the launch of WREN, Minister of State for Justice and Equality David Stanton, TD said that South and East Cork Area Development (SECAD) and Ballyhoura Development, in partnership with CIT, will deliver a targeted focused programme of training, mentoring and support infrastructure for women in the region.

The training programme will include one to one and group mentoring, female “role model” sharing of experience and support, business skills training, personal development and a networking/business pitching event, amongst other features. The WREN Project is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund.