Kilkenny female entrepreneurs encourage others to apply for free development programme

Kilkenny female entrepreneurs are encouraging others from the county to join the latest cycle of ACORNS - a highly-successful free development initiative to support early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland. 

The call for applications for the 9th cycle of ACORNS was recently launched by Charlie McConalogue T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine. ACORNS is funded through the Department’s Rural Innovation and Development Fund.

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The programme comes highly recommended by previous participants, with 100% of those surveyed at the end of the 8th cycle saying they would recommend the programme to others. The 46 entrepreneurs in ACORNS 8 made significant progress over the six months of their involvement, reporting significant growth in their new businesses. Their combined turnover almost doubled in the six months to April 2023 - from €1.9m to €3.6m. Participants in ACORNS 8 employed 96 (55 full-time, 41 part-time) staff at the end of the cycle, an increase of 16. There were also five new exporters over the cycle. 

There are 50 places available for ACORNS 9 which will run from October 2023 to April 2024. Those wishing to receive an application form for ACORNS 9 should register on the website (www.acorns.ie).

The deadline for applications is midnight, September 22.

Past participants from Kilkenny include Abby Mahon of Bee Media (www.beemediakk.com). Abby Mahon had been lending her digital marketing skills to a small business in Kilkenny city when her talent for driving engagement came to the attention of other local firms. That vote of confidence inspired her in 2021 to set up Bee Media, a one-stop shop for businesses in need of digital media solutions, including social media marketing, graphic design, videography, and website development. Abby was a participant on ACORNS 8.

Abby says: “ACORNS has been invaluable to my business, Bee Media, and has provided me with great insight and support on everything start- up related. Peer learning and knowledge sharing has been a highlight. Participants can share their experiences, insights, and lessons learned, providing practical advice and solutions to common challenges. Learning from others' successes and failures can help members make informed decisions. I would highly recommend joining ACORNS.”