Going for Growth launches 18th cycle of business development programme for ambitious female entrepreneurs

Going for Growth today launched a call for applications for the 18^th cycle of the business development programme for ambitious female entrepreneurs who are seeking to grow their business. Pictured at the launch are: (l-r) Lead Entrepreneur Susan Spence, formerly SoftCo; Participant Sinead Timoney of Fehily Timoney & Co (who has just completed the 17^th cycle of Going for Growth); Enterprise Ireland CEO Jenny Melia and Partner at KPMG Olivia Lynch

• Applications for award-winning programme close at midnight, Friday, November 21

• 60 places available for six-month programme beginning in January

• Participants in last cycle reported €17m increase in total revenue 

Going for Growth – a programme for ambitious female entrepreneurs who are seeking to increase revenue, create employment, and explore new market opportunities – is today accepting applications for its 18^th 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. More than 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. 

Sixty places are available for the new six-month cycle, which is due to begin with a one-day Launch Forum in January. The programme will run from January to June, with one round table discussion each month. 

Round tables are facilitated by successful businesswomen, known as Lead Entrepreneurs, whose participation is completely voluntary and done in a spirit of altruism. 

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 highly successful Lead Entrepreneurs are: Susan Spence, formerly SoftCo, and Fidelma McGuirk, Payslip.

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. 

Between Going for Growth (56) and Starting Strong (28), a total of 83 participants were involved in the 17^th cycle of the programme. Total combined turnover increased from €64m to €81m over the six-month cycle, an increase of €17m. Starting Strong is a sister programme of Going for Growth for businesses who are not as long established and that have exceptional growth potential. 

Participants also created 68 new jobs over the cycle (25 full-time and 43 part-time), increasing the total employment figure to 894. Four companies began exporting over the cycle with 51 participants now having exporting experience. 

An end-of-cycle survey revealed unanimous support for the programme, with 100% reporting that they would recommend participating in Going for Growth to others, and 100% saying that they would welcome a means of staying in contact with the Going for Growth community. Some 98% said that their participation in Going for Growth brought about a practical change within their business while 95% felt nearer to achieving their ambitions. 

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. Lead Entrepreneurs Aine Denn, formerly Altify, and Fiona O’Carroll, NoNee, will facilitate two Continuing The Momentum round tables this year.

Jenny Melia, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said: “Enterprise Ireland 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.  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.

"Over the past 17 cycles, this initiative has demonstrated its impact in helping women-led businesses to increase revenue, create employment, and expand into new markets, and I would encourage all eligible entrepreneurs to apply and to engage with the peer support, expert guidance, and leadership offered through this unique programme.”

Partner at KPMG, Olivia Lynch, said: “KPMG 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.”

“We proudly celebrate female role models in sports and are equally passionate about fostering women's success in business. With the invaluable guidance from Lead Entrepreneurs, tailored KPMG workshops, and a strong network of peers, participants gain critical insights and the support necessary to navigate these challenges. Together, cultivating a vibrant future for women in entrepreneurship throughout Ireland.”

National Director of Going for Growth, Paula Fitzsimons, said: “We’re delighted to launch the latest cycle of Going for Growth. Over the years, the programme has delivered fantastic results in terms of revenue, employment, and growth into new markets for more than 1,000 female business owners. 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. I would encourage all ambitious female entrepreneurs and owner/managers looking to increase revenue, create employment, and explore new market opportunities to submit their applications for the 18^th cycle of Going for Growth before the deadline of Friday, November 21.” 

Past participant Sinead Timoney of Fehily Timoney & Co, which is headquartered in Cork, has just completed the 17^th cycle of Going for Growth. She said: “The civil engineering industry is traditionally male dominated, and it is easy to be influenced by the majority. Going for Growth provides the platform for female leaders to discuss key operational areas of their businesses in an open and confidential setting to enable all to learn and for companies to thrive. What I loved about the programme was that it took me out of my comfort zone and surrounded me with the most inspirational and confident women. They taught me that as women leaders we are exceptional. We are resilient, we have the skills, and we are not alone and that every day we are breaking boundaries to no longer be the minority.”

Past participant Gráinne Mullins of Grá Chocolates, which is based in Galway, has just completed the Continuing the Momentum programme. She said: “Going for Growth was such an incredible experience. I connected with women in a similar position to me and we could be open and vulnerable to each other about the struggles of having our own businesses. I learned so much over the few months and having peers that understood and could advise you really helped to keep me on track. I am so thankful for having been chosen for the Going for Growth Programme in the first instance and continuing the participation in Continuing the Momentum on this cycle. It has made all the difference!”

Log onto www.goingforgrowth.com for more details and to request an application form.

For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact or Martha Kearns at StoryLab on +353 87 2720212

Notes to Editors

• About Going for Growth
  Going for Growth is an initiative to support female entrepreneurs, regardless of sector, who are seriously committed to growing their businesses. Designed and developed by Paula Fitzsimons, Fitzsimons Consulting, more than 1,000 female entrepreneurs from across the country have taken part in the initiative to date.  For more information, please visit www.goingforgrowth.com.
• Eligibility criteria
  Applications will be considered from female entrepreneurs across all sectors who are located in the Republic of Ireland. Businesses of all sizes will be considered, if a strong growth ambition can be demonstrated.  The applicant should already be the owner-manager of a business of which she is a major shareholder and key influencer and should be working full time on the business. It is expected that the business will have been trading for several years.
• Starting Strong
  In exceptional cases, businesses with some revenues, but less than two years sales,  or those who have raised significant equity investment/grant funding, will be considered, if it is felt that the business is highly innovative, plans to have export customers and the entrepreneur has very significant growth ambitions. If accepted, these participants are included in the ‘Starting Strong’ element of the programme.
• Lead Entrepreneurs
  You can read more about the successful businesswomen, who have committed to become voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs for the next cycle of Going for Growth, here - http://www.goingforgrowth.com/lead-entrepreneurs/
• International Recognition for Going for Growth
  Since launching, the merits and excellence of Going for Growth have been recognised repeatedly by the EU, OECD and European Institute of Gender Equality. In 2015, Going for Growth was awarded the European Enterprise Promotion Award, Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills. In 2016, the initiative was included by the EU and OECD in a compendium of examples of innovative initiatives https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/industry-and-services/inclusive-business-creation-good-practice-compendium_9789264251496-en.  The entrepreneurship tool for policy makers, released by the EU and OECD includes Going for Growth as a case study https://www.betterentrepreneurship.eu/en/content/going-growth-ireland