This Friday (23rd) is the final deadline for early-stage female entrepreneurs in rural areas to apply for the latest cycle of the ACORNS business development initiative.
This is the 8th year of the Government-backed ACORNS programme, which is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, under its Rural Innovation and Development Fund.
The call for new participants was launched last month by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue.
A total of 50 new entrepreneurs will be selected from those who apply but applications have to be completed and submitted by midnight on Friday.
The ACORNS 8 programme is completely free to those selected to participate and will run over six months from October 2022 to April 2023.
More than 350 female entrepreneurs have taken part in ACORNS to date and a significant portion are still actively involved.
Any woman with a new business based in rural Ireland — or an idea for a new venture they want to get off the ground — can get more information and register to receive an application form at www.acorns.ie.
This year’s voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs are Anne Reilly, formerly Paycheck Plus; Caroline Reidy, The HR Suite; Deirdre McGlone, Hospitality & Tourism Advisor; Eimer Hannon, Hannon Travel; Larissa Feeney, Accountant Online; Mary B Walsh, Ire Wel Pallets; Triona MacGiolla Rí, Aró Digital Strategies.
