Louth businesswomen urged to grab their spot on the Going for Growth Programme

Ambitious female entrepreneurs and established business owners from Louth, who are aiming to increase revenue, create employment, and explore new market opportunities, are being encouraged to submit their applications to the Going for Growth business development programme. 

The call for applications for the 18th cycle of Going for Growth is now open. 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. 

Application forms can be requested from the website – www.goingforgrowth.com. Completed applications  must be returned by midnight, November 21.

Sixty places are available for the new six-month cycle, which is due to begin with a one-day Launch Forum on January 14. The programme will run from January to June, with one round table session each month. 

Louth Woman Sinéad Crowther, CEO of Soothing Solutions and Creator of Tonstix, was a participant on Starting Strong, which is part of Going for Growth but for earlier stage businesses, in 2024. Tonstix was borne from Sinéad’s experience in community pharmacy for over 25 years. 

On a daily basis, she was met with frustrated parents trying to do their best for their children with sore throats and coughs, but unfortunately there wasn’t an over-the-counter product that would soothe this type of discomfort. Tonstix Honey Jelly Pops are formulated and manufactured in Ireland.

Sinéad, who was crowned HPSU Founder of the year in 2023, says: “The Starting Strong Programme was an incredibly supportive experience. Having a safe space to discuss business challenges and receive honest feedback from my peers was hugely beneficial. It helped me grow in confidence as a female leader and build fantastic new connections.”

Rachel Hanna is the founder of Bell Media, a media company with an ambition to foster a culture of innovation in school communities and inspire young people internationally. Based in Dundalk, Rachel completed the 15thcycle of Going for Growth. 

Rachel says: “Going for Growth is an absolute game changer for women in business. From the get-go you are surrounded by like-minded women and an experienced entrepreneur, all of whom, force you into taking immediate action on your goals.  

“Thinking of the bigger picture and why you are doing what you are doing becomes clearer as the sessions evolve. Deep Dives, learning curves, new friendships and great insight come as a result. You will have immediate access to a network of high calibre ladies who will help you focus and take accountability for your actions, or lack thereof. This is a very clever programme, engaging, challenging, welcoming and life changing.  If you are ready to move to the next level – Don’t miss the opportunities that Going for Growth will afford you.”

Going for Growth brings together female entrepreneurs for monthly peer-to-peer roundtable discussions, facilitated by successful businesswomen, known as Lead Entrepreneurs, whose participation is completely voluntary and is 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. 

Louth woman Rachel Hanna is the founder of Bell Media

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 cycles, this initiative has demonstrated its impact in helping women-led businesses to increase revenue, create employment, and expand into new markets, and I would encourage all eligible entrepreneurs to apply and to engage with the peer support, expert guidance, and leadership offered through this unique programme.”

Partner at KPMG, Olivia Lynch, said: 

“KPMG is committed to championing female entrepreneurship in Ireland, especially in the face of the unique challenges of 2025, including economic uncertainty, evolving market demands, and the need for sustainable practices. Through our unwavering support of Going for Growth, this programme plays a crucial role in empowering ambitious women by providing them with essential resources, mentorship, and a robust community.”

“We proudly celebrate female role models in sports and are equally passionate about fostering women's success in business. With the invaluable guidance from Lead Entrepreneurs, tailored KPMG workshops, and a strong network of peers, participants gain critical insights and the support necessary to navigate these challenges. Together, cultivating a vibrant future for women in entrepreneurship throughout Ireland.”

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National Director of Going for Growth, Paula Fitzsimons, said: 

“We’re delighted to launch the latest cycle of Going for Growth. Over the years, the programme has delivered fantastic results in terms of revenue, employment, and growth into new markets for more than 1,000 female business owners. The end of cycle survey shows how positively the programme is received by its latest participants and the impact that it has had on them personally and on their businesses. I would encourage all ambitious female entrepreneurs and owner/managers looking to increase revenue, create employment, and explore new market opportunities to submit their applications for the 18th cycle of Going for Growth before the deadline of Friday, November 21.”