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 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. 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 17th 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 of 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 cycl...