Some 50 places are available for rural female entrepreneurs on the latest Accelerating the Creation Of Rural Nascent Start-ups (ACORNS) cycle.

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is urging female entrepreneurs to take part in the Government-supported programme, which has already helped over 200 women.

“The ACORNS programme is a tremendous opportunity for early stage female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland to help realise their ambitions,” Minister Creed said.

“I would urge those who have recently started or are about to start a new business to apply to participate in this exciting initiative, as it is an opportunity not to be missed.”

The six-month programme runs from October 2019 to April 2020 and the deadline for applications is 20 September. Paula Fitzsimons, founder and managing director of Fitzsimons Consulting, said that on average, 850 women are starting new businesses in Ireland every month.

Achievements for ACORNS participants who took part in the last cycle:

Combined turnover was €2.3m – an increase of 43% over the six-month programme cycle.

Thirteen participants became exporters for the first time.

Nineteen additional part-time employees were hired during the cycle, with 26 companies planning to hire additional staff this year.

Of the participants, 86% said ACORNS brought about practical change within their business; 95% felt nearer to achieving their ambitions and 100% would recommend participating in ACORNS to others.

For more information on eligibility criteria and how to apply visit www.acorns.ie.

Participant’s stories

Finn Ní Fhaoláin

Milish Bakery, Bundoran, Co Donegal

Cookbook author and marine biologist, gluten-free bakery owner and ACORNS participant, Finn Ní Fhaoláin highly recommends the programme. When she got involved in ACORNS in 2016 she had not yet published her cookbook or opened her bakery.

“I had no business background and was the youngest in the group, they were so helpful. It was like having a board of directors even though I didn’t have a premises,” laughs Finn who’s bakery, Milish, is in Bundoran, Co Donegal.

“I don’t think any of this would have happened if it wasn’t for ACORNS. One of the women in the group helped me with my bank loan application, another helped me with the branding. They are sounding boards, sometimes you’re so bogged down in your own business that you don’t see the next step whereas someone else can see it very clearly.”

Finn says that being self-employed is tough, having the ACORNS support group gives you somewhere to share that experience.

“You end up using that network for work. I’ve done consultancy work for other restaurants in ACORNS [on gluten-free options].”

Finn is in favour of having an all-female group, such as ACORNS, as she feels that women are a great support to one another.

“I think sometimes there’s that unfair vision of cattiness between women, I’ve never seen that.

“I’ve found that in a group of young entrepreneurs of both genders, I’ve been doing presentations and taken down to the point of crying by guys, which I don’t believe would happen in a female group.

“In womens’ groups, while we’re applauding the woman who has reached multi-million euros worth in sales, the other woman is bawling crying because she’s just found out she’s pregnant, she’s just taken out a massive loan on her business and just got married and how is she going to balance that? I don’t think she’d say that in a men’s group.”

Visit Finn’s blog www.saltwaterstories.me and @milish_bakery on Instagram.

Lisa Larkin

Durrow Mills, Co Westmeath

“[ACORNS] has linked me with a peer group of women in other rural areas, all facing the same challenges. I would still be in touch with a lot of my group, we meet up and bounce things off each other,” says Lisa Larkin of Durrow Mills, Co Westmeath. She took part in the ACORNS pilot programme when she was setting up her business making whole wheat-sprouted flour.

“It’s great because it can be lonely when running a start-up business. The ACORNS team is brilliant, always running workshops throughout the year. You can contact them at any stage.

“It’s stated at the beginning that people would be sharing sensitive information, so it’s built on trust throughout. There’s about eight of us in a group.

“There’s a lead entrepreneur you are assigned to and they chair the meeting. They are someone much more advanced in their business and have gone through everything you’re going through. They also allocate goals for everyone. It wouldn’t work without them. It creates the whole atmosphere of sharing and helping because they are giving their time to help you.”

Lisa says that ACORNS is ideal for women who have established a business idea and are working towards that.

“Once you have an idea and a goal, I would recommend applying. I had the product, but no packaging or premises. By the time I finished ACORNS I had my product for sale in shops with the packaging, I don’t think I would have been as fast in that process if it wasn’t for ACORNS.

“It makes you speed things up and gives you deadlines. Otherwise you are only accountable to yourself, everyone wants to say to the group meeting that they’ve hit their goals.

“It’s a complete rollercoaster trying to start a business. I’d highly recommend ACORNS, it’s definitely helped me get to where I am now and I’m going to stay involved.”

Visit www.durrowmills.com

Kylie Magner

Magner’s Farm, Co Tipperary

Kylie Magner first heard about ACORNS through Twitter, when her business was in it’s infanc. She says the benefits of taking part in the programme began at the very first meeting “listening to inspiring stories from other women who had been in the same situation as me, now progressing and running extremely successful businesses.

“Our mentor (Anne Cusack, Critical Healthcare) was similar to having a general manager of our business. Full of incredible advice, but also someone to whom you are accountable.

"It can be a very lonely journey starting up your business so to have that type of direction was invaluable.

“Although my business was agriculturally related, sound business management is critical in any new start-up. To have a framework and accountability is paramount to any successful business.”

For women looking at the programme and wondering if it is for them, Kylie says “do it!”.

“I’m still reaping the benefits from the contacts, support and camaraderie the programme offered. The ACORNS programme gives you the ability to step outside of your business and analyse it methodically.

“It really gave me the confidence to succeed, eliminate the ‘imposter syndrome’, gave me new ideas and a whole new network of great women.”

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