Setting Out The Challenge Fewer women start new businesses than do men Latent entrepreneurial potential of women recognised Focus on encouraging more women to start businesses This addresses only part of the challenge!

Setting Out The Challenge Of those women that start, fewer grow their businesses Means needed to encourage and support more women to develop and grow their businesses Open call for proposals for the development of a growth acceleration initiative for women entrepreneurs by Gender Equality Unit of Department of Justice and Equality

What is Going for Growth?  Unique support for women growing their businesses  Selected participants, at same stage of development, are placed at one of eight round tables  Each group is facilitated and led by an experienced woman Lead Entrepreneur, who gives time on a voluntary basis  Development fostered through agenda led discussion

 Firm base of research underpinning the initiative  Reflects national policy and enterprise priorities  Included in the 2009 Good Practice initiatives by the European Commission and voted into the Top 10 most beneficial to implement of those initiatives.  Represented Ireland in European Enterprise Awards 2011  High level of support by Enterprise Ireland Strong Credentials

Effects of Going for Growth  Reduces sense of isolation  Applies “good” peer pressure  Participants become highly motivated and confidence increases  Learn from each other as well as from the Lead  Move towards achieving stated goals  Set ambitions even higher

4 th Cycle of Going for Growth 59 participants completed the 4 th cycle  100% considered the experience positive  97% made a decision for their businesses  92% considered that the sessions translated into practical change within their business  98% felt nearer to achieving their growth goals at the end of the cycle

Tangible Outcomes - Sales Combined turnover at start of cycle - €46m Increases made by the participants in six month period  At least 32 of the participants’ businesses experienced a growth in sales  Median growth of these was 24.5%

Tangible Outcomes -Employment In six month period, the 59 participants  Strengthened at least 450 existing jobs  47% (28) took on new staff  An additional 50 (+11%) individuals were employed

Tangible Outcomes – New Exporters In the six month period the number of exporters increased by 33% from 18 to 24 (7 new exporters- one previous exporter did not export during the 6 months of the cycle) In all respects the tangible outcomes were a further improvement on the 3 rd cycle, despite continuing difficult trading conditions

Going for Growth  4 cycles already successfully completed and 5 th cycle underway  Over 240 past participants  Testimonials on site attest to the benefits the participants derived from their involvement  Past participants and Leads are best ambassadors