Annamarie McNally, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Eibhlin Fitzpatrick, The Refill Mill, Mullingar.

Female entrepreneurs encourage others to join ACORNS

Olga Aughey

Published: Wed 6 Sep 2023, 10:26 AM

Last updated: Wed 6 Sep 2023, 10:27 AM

Female entrepreneurs are encouraging others from Westmeath to join the latest cycle of ACORNS - a highly-successful free development initiative to support early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland.

One of those is Eibhlin Fitzpatrick of The Refill Mill in Mullingar, who says “I was thrilled to be a part of ACORNS 8, it has been invaluable to my business."

Eibhlin's business grew from her increasing dismay at the excessive use of plastic packaging for everything from groceries to cleaning products.

It inspired her to set up her own plastic-free retail store, The Refill Mill, which offers shoppers the opportunity to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics by filling their own containers from the array of everyday pantry staples and eco-friendly products available in-store. An online service is also available to visitors to the website.

"The support and encouragement from the women I met in the process has led me to move out of my comfort zone and push myself to set and achieve greater goals than I imagined possible," says Eibhlin of ACORNS 8. "It has been challenging, inspiring and one of the best things I could have done for my business. I would recommend the programme to any female entrepreneurs who are looking for a positive support system."

The call for applications for the 9th cycle of ACORNS was recently launched by Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine. ACORNS is funded through the Department’s Rural Innovation and Development Fund.

The 46 entrepreneurs in ACORNS 8 made significant progress over the six months of their involvement, reporting significant growth in their new businesses. Their combined turnover almost doubled in the six months to April 2023 - from €1.9m to €3.6m. Participants in ACORNS 8 employed 96 (55 full-time, 41 part-time) staff at the end of the cycle, an increase of 16. There were also five new exporters over the cycle.

There are 50 places available for ACORNS 9 which will run from October 2023 to April 2024. Those wishing to receive an application form for ACORNS 9 should register on the website www.acorns.ie. The deadline for applications is midnight, September 22.

Niamh Dooley from Athlone, took part in Acorns 7. It helped her to set up BiaSol, a business that upcycles spent grain from breweries into healthy food products. BiaSol has had nationwide success and was the 2021 Irish Times Innovation Winner for Manufacturing & Design, 2022 Blas Na hEireann Finalist, Chefs Larder Winner & Best in County and 2023 RDS Spring Awards Winners Rural Innovation. Photo by James Connolly

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, who has first-hand experience of starting and successfully growing a business in rural Ireland. Each of the Lead Entrepreneurs give their time to the programme on a voluntary basis, as they believe in the philosophy of ‘entrepreneurs helping entrepreneurs’.

Only early-stage female entrepreneurs operating in rural Ireland, and who have had no sales before the end of June 2020, are eligible to apply. There will be no charge for those selected to participate in ACORNS 9, thanks to the continuing support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the voluntary contribution of time by the Lead Entrepreneurs.

This year’s voluntary lead entrepreneurs are Anne Reilly, formerly Paycheck Plus; Caroline Reidy, The HR Suite; Deirdre McGlone, Hospitality and Tourism Advisor; Eimer Hannon, Hannon Travel; Larissa Feeney, Accountant Online; Mary B Walsh, Ire Wel Pallets; and Triona MacGiolla Rí, Aró Digital Strategies.

“While there are many rewards to being an entrepreneur, it can be a lonely journey with many challenges," said Minister McConalogue at the launch of the project. "To provide support in dealing with these challenges, I am pleased to be able to provide further funding to female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland through the 9th ACORNS Programme. This programme will not only help develop businesses, but will provide networking opportunities to participants that may not be as available in rural parts of the country.

“To date through the ACORNS programme, I have been able to support over 400 female entrepreneurs to realise their business ambitions, while contributing to society in a meaningful way. The impact of this support has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting both increased sales and the creation of additional jobs.

“Considering the wide-ranging benefits accrued, I am delighted that we are in a position to continue to support a further 50 participants for this year’s initiative which is funded under the Rural Innovation and Development Fund".