Longford female entrepreneurs encouraged to apply for ACORN programme

Female entrepreneurs from Longford are being encouraged to submit their applications for the latest cycle of ACORNS, a highly successful development programme to support women living in rural Ireland who are in the early stages of starting their own business.

Longford entrepreneur Brónagh Rogers of Bean & Bread recently completed the latest cycle of the programme.- ACORNS 10. She joins Ellen Madden of Down the Floral Path as previous Longford participants calling on businesswomen to join the programme.

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ACORNS has been providing support to early-stage female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland for more than a decade and has recently launched the 11th cycle of the business development programme.

The deadline for applications for ACORNS 11 is midnight, September 22. There are up to 50 places available for ACORNS 11. Those wishing to receive an application form should register on the website (www.acorns.ie).

Brónagh Rogers, who worked as a chef for ten years in Dublin, London, New York and Canada, among other locations, had to rethink her vocation when like many people working in hospitality she was let go during the Covid-19 pandemic. So, the native of Mullinalaghta, which is outside Granard, in Co Longford, swapped cheffing for baking three years ago and set up her business at home in a premises she built herself. However, while the bakery was a success, Brónagh couldn’t help but notice that the various coffee shops she was supplying were making considerably more money from her products than she was. This inspired her to pivot her business, and she opened her own café – Bean & Bread – in Granard in April last year.

Ellen Madden, an ACORNS 9 participant, studied to become a florist in Paris before returning to her home in Longford town to set up Down the Floral Path www.downthefloralpath.com, her wedding and events floral service.

Ellen says that the ACORNS programme dispelled the sense of being overwhelmed about what to do with her business and how to go about doing it. She says that having tasks to do before each monthly meeting helped her to focus on specific areas and talking through issues with the other participants was very beneficial.

ACORNS is based on the belief that early-stage entrepreneurs learn best from their peers. Participants interact with each other in the monthly round table sessions, which are facilitated by a Lead Entrepreneur.

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Only early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland, and who have had no sales before the end of June 2022, are eligible to apply. Selection is on a competitive basis due to the high demand of applications.