'THE Greenshoots programme is an exciting breeding ground for creative ideas, business progression and practical hands-on advice
‘THE Greenshoots programme is an exciting breeding ground for creative ideas, business progression and practical hands-on advice towards running your own business,’ said Catherine Costello, enterprise programme manager at the Macroom E Enterprise Centre.
‘We’re delighted to be welcoming yet another group of Cork’s top entrepreneurs and are looking forward to seeing all the ideas they bring,’ she added when launching an invitation this week to Budding local entrepreneurs and start-ups hoping to make their mark in 2015. They have been invited to apply to participate in the next Greenshoots Emerging Entrepreneur Programme, commencing in February at the Macroom centre.
In the first four years since its inception, the Greenshoots Emerging Entrepreneur Programme has worked with dozens of individuals in Cork, helping them develop their new business ideas from conceptual stages through to launching new companies, with most establishing themselves as successful Cork-based companies in a renewed economy.
The Greenshoots Emerging Entrepreneur Programme is a support, training and guidance programme for early stage start-ups, delivered at Macroom E Enterprise Centre and funded by the Economic Development Section of Cork County Council and the Local Enterprise Office South Cork.
During each programme, Greenshoots participants avail of free shared office space, weekly training workshops on key areas of business development, individual mentorship, business coaching, links with local and national support agencies, guidance from excellent established entrepreneurs and lots of peer to peer support.
Over the course of four years since it began, many success stories have emerged from the alumni group. One of them, Atilla Maygar, director of Mamukko and award winning bag maker, explained: ‘The group discussions were a big help. Participants share their fears and their successes. You learn a lot from the other participants’.
A simple application form is available from www.greenshootscork.ie. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, January 21st, after which applicants will be shortlisted for an interview presentation and selected based on the viability of their business idea.
The programme is due to start in early February. The project website is www.greenshootscork.ie
