The ever-popular Greenshoots Emerging Entrepreneurs Programme has 11 participating new businesses this year.
THE ever-popular Greenshoots Emerging Entrepreneurs Programme has 11 participating new businesses this year.
In its sixth year, the initiative, which is supported by Cork County Council and the Local Enterprise Offices, works closely with selected entrepreneurs and helps them to prepare their businesses for the commercial world. As usual, the Macroom E Enterprise Centre is the centre of operations.
The 2016 ‘shoots’ are developing a broad range of businesses in areas like heritage, the arts, health & safety, horticulture, natural skincare, professional development, wellness travel, and app development. Naomi Smith of Cork Photo, one of the new participants, said: ‘Greenshoots has been invaluable in this formative stage of our business, the wealth of expertise and knowledge made available to us has been outstanding. Macroom E has developed an exceptional programme for emerging entrepreneurs here in Cork.’
Those views were echoed by the Greenshoots programme manager Catherine Costello.
‘The Greenshoots programme always attracts interesting and diverse businesses with a drive to succeed,’ she said.
‘This year’s group is no different, with everything from handmade chocolate and animation, to natural skincare and photography; the positivity and energy amongst the 11 business owners is palpable and I have no doubt that we will see great success stories over the coming months and years.’
Since its inception in 2010, the Greenshoots programme has supported the launch of 64 new businesses, with almost 80% remaining in business to the present day. For more information, visit http://greenshootscork.ie/.