Going for Growth - a programme for female entrepreneurs who are seeking to increase revenue, create employment, and explore new market opportunities - is now accepting applications for its 18th cycle.
The programme to aid female business owners in all sectors is supported by Enterprise Ireland and KPMG and is free of charge for those selected to participate.
Over 1,000 women have completed Going for Growth since it started in 2008.
The application window for Going for Growth is open from October 13 until midnight, November 21. Application forms can be requested from the website – www.GoingforGrowth.com.
60 places are available for the new six-month cycle and the programme will run from January to June, with one round table discussion each month.
Going for Growth has been repeatedly recognised by the EU, OECD, and European Institute of Gender Equality as a key initiative in helping to foster greater ambition among female entrepreneurs and to support their growth aspirations.
The support provided does not end on completion of the six-month cycle, with most past participants becoming part of the Going for Growth community.
Going for Growth alumni can apply to participate in the Continuing the Momentum programme, which offers lead entrepreneur-facilitated roundtables to those looking to continue their growth journey, with the aid of peer support, focused goals, and milestones.
Paula Fitzsimons, National Director of Going for Growth, said the programme has delivered fantastic results in terms of revenue, employment, and growth into new markets for more than 1,000 female business owners over the years.
"The end of cycle survey shows how positively the programme is received by its latest participants and the impact that it has had on them personally and on their businesses," she added.
Jenny Melia, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said the agency is committed to increasing opportunities for women entrepreneurs and supporting them at every stage of their business journey.
"This includes working with colleagues and partners from across the ecosystem, to ensure we foster the skills, ambition and talent, and ensure that Ireland is a great location to start and scale a business," she said.
"That is why Enterprise Ireland is proud to continue our support for Going for Growth, a programme which supports women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and realise their growth ambitions," she added.
Olivia Lynch, Partner at KPMG, said the firm is committed to championing female entrepreneurship in Ireland, especially in the face of the unique challenges of 2025, including economic uncertainty, evolving market demands, and the need for sustainable practices.
"Through our unwavering support of Going for Growth, this programme plays a crucial role in empowering ambitious women by providing them with essential resources, mentorship, and a robust community," she said.
Nine of the 11 Lead Entrepreneurs on this year's programme are former participants in Going for Growth.
They are Anne Cusack, formerly Critical Healthcare; Chupi Sweetman-Durney, Chupi; Hannah Wrixon, Kella and formerly WrkWrk; Jeananne O’Brien, Artizan Food Co.; Leonora O’Brien, formerly Pharmapod; Louella Morton. TestReach; Marissa Carter, Cocoa Brown; Oonagh O’Hagan, Meaghers Pharmacy Group and Tara Beattie, Prepsheets.com.
The other two Lead Entrepreneurs are Susan Spence, formerly SoftCo, and Fidelma McGuirk, Payslip.
