The Grow It All-Island programme is for business owners, founders and directors or partners who are ready to take their business to the next level, and have an interest in developing their sales and marketing all-island.

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Programme benefits 

This growth programme aims to achieve any of the following for participants:

• New connections North or South
• Increased turnover or profitability
• Increased staffing or resources
• New markets or new revenue streams
• Strategic analysis and strategic planning
• A takeaway strategic action plan
• Increased confidence in all areas of business development
• Growth mindset
• Stronger leaders
• Ambition and vision
  

Programme Overview

This programme is for business owners, founders and directors and partners who are ready to take their business to the next level and are ambitious, passionate and committed to their vision. Suitable for business owners with an interest in developing their market all-Island or building on an existing customer base.

This programme will add value to businesses who would like to achieve growth through building their team, looking at new export markets, reviewing their branding and marketing, raising external investment, increasing their sales revenue and developing their leadership skills. For business owners who have a solid business and market, but feel that there are elements of their business that they could improve and scale, and would benefit from direction, clarity, structure, focus.

For businesses located in Ireland, that wish to develop sales into Northern Ireland and rest of the UK, or to build on existing customer base or develop collaborations. For businesses located in Northern Ireland, they may wish to develop sales into Ireland or build on an existing customer base or develop collaborations.

What You Will Learn

• Providing the business owner with time and space to work ON the business and not IN the business.
• An incredible opportunity to build a new network of business owners who are at a similar stage to you and to diversify your network – reaching all sectors and all-island.
• Insights, tips and advice from specialist facilitators who deliver the masterclasses.
• Meetings and connections with a group of 29 peers but also 10+ role models from EY (our Champions) and through Women in Business, Network Ireland and InterTradeIreland networks.
• Learnings from champions and consultants and actionable advice.
• Personal development throughout the programme and all elements contribute to renewed motivation and vision for you and your business.
• A new road map for your business.
• A network of support with like-minded founders/owners that can continue beyond the programme.

Eligibility Criteria

• You must be a woman founder, partner or director in the business.
• Minimum 2 years trading and beyond the start-up phase.
• Minimum turnover of £80,000, seeking growth and All-Island connections.
• You must be or become a member of either Women in Business or Network Ireland.
• You must complete an application form and this will be scored.
• Additional eligibility criteria may be applied in order to help with selection if high numbers apply.
  

Timeline of activities & dates

  » 2024

• 10th September: Expressions of Interest open
• 7th October: Expressions of Interest close
• November: 1-2-1 Needs assessment with successful applicants
• 25-26th November (dates provisional): 2 day residential with 30 participants from North and South focusing on Growth, Strategy and Connections to take place in Killeavy Castle, Newry.
• W/C 9th December 1: Full day in person masterclass day on Growth through Branding and Marketing to take place in Belfast and Dublin locations.
  

  » January – June 2025 (dates to be confirmed)

• 3 in person full day masterclasses focusing on growth through selling, finance and leadership. These will be scheduled 3 weeks apart to allow for learning and action. They will take place simultaneously in North and South locations for the local groups of 15 women founders to attend to save on travel time and will be delivered by local specialist trainers.
• 3 additional in person full day Northern Ireland and Ireland groups will take place intermittently and will be for all 30 participants. These will focus on strategic planning, growth mindset, scaling and connections. They will be a mixture of delivery by expert facilitators, role model entrepreneur speakers, groups masterminds and 1-2-1 meetings. There will be a focus on fostering North-South connections. Locations to be confirmed.
• 2 online meetings for all 30 participants for connecting and supporting each other.
• 1 in person full day alumni event in June 2025 for participants to meet with previous programme participants and women founders.
• 5 hours of 1-2-1 consultancy support with a growth or specialist consultant. Matching in February. Consultancy March-May.
• 3 online peer group meetings with champions. Working in small groups of 2-4 participants you will be allocated an experienced entrepreneur to brainstorm, plan and goal set. Currently scheduled April – June.

Programme Delivery Format

  » Programme elements

• All-Island two day residential at Killeavy Castle, Newry late November or early December.
• 3 in-person all-island events focusing on strategy and growth, mastermind group meetings to include full day/evening networking and optional overnight at own cost
• 4 in person specialist masterclasses “Learn -Think -Apply”, facilitated by external consultants and delivered in each region to save travel time. Subjects will be marketing, selling, finance and leadership.
• 3x individual growth action planning sessions with a growth consultant or specialist
• 3x online mastermind sessions in small mixed groups of 4 participants from the Northern Ireland and Ireland led by Champion Entrepreneurs through the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Programme.
• Online forum and weekly chat
•  2 online All-Island online Mastermind sessions
• Invitation to All Island Alumni event to bring 60 women together from Northern Ireland and Ireland for a day of connections and meetings.

  » Programme Cost

You must become a member of Women in Business NI or Network Ireland to participate in the programme. Membership fees are annual and must be paid for a minimum of 1 year. Rates are on the relevant websites. You do not have to pay the membership fee until a place has been confirmed.

Expressions of Interest closing date

Expressions of Interest will close on Monday 7th October at 1pm.

WHY YOU SHOULD APPLY

Santis O’Gara | Budget Mindset Club
It was a very safe environment, where everyone was respected at all levels. I have learned so much and will continue to build on this thank you.
Grow It Graduate 2023

Loraa White | Music Video Marketplace
The timing of this programme was perfect as it enabled me to plan a strategy to scale and move the business forward.
Grow It Graduate 2023

Pauline Clarke | Kookee
The ability to learn from others outside your industry was invaluable. Our group mentor sessions were far more beneficial than I expected.
Grow It Graduate 2023

Vivian Wong | One More Thing
It guided me to think about the route to market and it helped to pivot our current business model from B2C focused to B2B focused.
Grow It Graduate 2023

Meet the programme managers

Roisin McDermott Women in Business | Head of Entrepreneurship Roisin is a Business Mentor and Trainer with over 20 years experience in supporting entrepreneurship, with a particular interest in female enterprise and social economy. Before joining the Women in Business team, she has been self-employed for 14 years as Seed Mentoring, working as a consultant supporting startups, micro business and small business through training, mentoring and project management. Prior to this she worked in the enterprise agency network for North Down Development/ East Belfast Enterprise and was one of the primary founders and voluntary Directors of Women in Business, where she served for 7 years. She is also the Treasurer of Specialisterne NI since its foundation in 2015, a social enterprise supporting neuro-diversity and employability and a voluntary Coach of a local girls' football team since 2019. She has a degree in Business Studies, an MBA, and an Advanced Diploma in Digital Marketing.

Emma Early Murphy Network Ireland | Collaborations Officer Emma is an award-winning entrepreneur, Business Coach & Mentor with over 20 years of experience in Corporate & SME Sales, Strategy, Customer Service, Marketing, Change Management, Leadership and Business Development, working with a range of cross-functional teams and businesses across a number of industries. She currently owns & runs 2 businesses. In 2017, along with her husband Noel, Emma set up Balloon HQ, a leading event design agency which provides bespoke branded décor, gifting and event solutions for clients nationwide. Emma also set up The Power of U, Business Coaching & Mentoring in 2022 where she supports clients on their personal & professional journeys to ensure they reach their full potential. Emma was appointed National President for 2023 of Ireland’s leading female business network and is currently Ex Officio and Collaborations Officer.