'New Beginnings' - Bord na Móna programme supports employees on their new journeys

As one of the greatest reverse engineering programmes in European history, Bord na Móna's exit from peat production and its plans to rehabilitate 33,000 hectares of bogs is having a huge impact on the landscape of the Midlands.

The ambitious plan also impacts on the semi-state body's employees and in a major scheme to assist workers begin their new journeys, Bord na Móna has established a start your own business programme, “New Beginnings”.

The innovative business programme is run by Bord na Móna in conjunction with Laois Offaly Education Training Board (LOETB) and is delivered by the Entrepreneur's Academy and Hartley People.

The programme is also supported by Offaly Local Enterprise Office (LEO).

Padraig Boland, FET Manager Strategic Projects, at LOETB, explained: “New Beginnings is a Start Your Own Business Programme that recognises the contribution of former Bord na Móna employees to the enterprise landscape of the midlands.

“The programme builds on the results of individual skills audits and training needs analysis conducted by LOETB with workers and it illustrates the positive skills partnership that has developed between LOETB and Bord na Móna. The programme’s greatest strength has been its participants who, despite diverse Bord na Móna roles and a variety of life and educational experience, formed a supportive, committed team.

“New Beginnings is unique in capturing the essence of Just Transition – supporting those most affected, people whose own jobs are threatened, by the transition from extractive industry and supporting them to become employment creators, providing services and products that will enhance the sustainability of the midland region and contribute to the green economy.“

The first “New Beginnings” programme ran from June to November of last year with ten participants, who are now in the process of establishing their own businesses – Damien Brazil: Fix My Gaff; Michael Kenny: MK Energy; Owen Kelly: Kelly Tyre Services (KTS); David Feeney: Dave's Midland Courier Service; Ger Dunican: Ger Dunican Retrofitting; John Fitzharris: Fitzzone Gym; Ronan Boylan: Endrim Safety Training; Padraig Mooney: Cosy Home Solutions; Ken O'Shea: Ken O'Shea Agri-Contracting and Trevor Mooney: TM Fabrications.

All the participants took part in-person in the programme which was run at the Accelerate Green hub in Boora for three days with participants spending the remainder of each week working on their business plans or in training.

The QQI and NFQ Level 5 accredited programme is a full-time alternative option to redeployment for those workers whose jobs have been impacted by the transition away from peat. It is necessary for it to be full time in order to ensure participants are fully ready to be self-employed and are equipped with all necessary tools to give them the best chance of success.

The programme starts with getting the participants into the entrepreneurial mindset and then delves deep into finance, market research, sales and marketing, business modelling and operations, value proposition, IT skills, sustainability, human resources and legal issues.

By the end of the programme, participants must present a viable business plan which is scored for their qualification as well as qualifying them for seed funding for their venture from Bord na Móna.

Explaining the germination of the “New Beginnings” programme, Elaine Negi, Strategic Projects Manager at Bord na Móna said: “A lot of employees had good, practical business ideas but didn’t know how to go about setting up their own business. This was the first start your own business programme run by Bord na Móna and it aimed to provide them with the necessary training to get off the ground and begin their exciting journeys while continuing to be fully supported.

”As this first cohort embark on their self-employed journeys, the first year of a new business is often very uncertain and stressful for the business owner. Business viability can be fragile. Considering this, Bord na Móna and LOETB are keen to ensure that they continue to provide these new businesses with on-going mentoring support. The new businesses will also be encouraged to continue to support each other and benefit from the mentality that blossomed while on the programme.

One of the graduates of the programme, Ronan Boylan, Endrim Safety Training, commented: “Throughout this transformative journey, I received invaluable guidance and advice from mentors and trainers. Moreover, I found support among my peers—nine others who were also navigating the path of establishing their businesses. Whenever questions or challenges arose, our collective wisdom quickly resolved them. The diversity of viewpoints and options provided profound insights into how to approach various aspects of entrepreneurship.”

Participants on the pilot “New Beginnings” programme were mainly Bord na Móna employees at the old Derrinlough briquette factory and came from all over Offaly, from Ferbane right up to Clonbullogue.

According to Sharon Doyle, Head of HR and Corporate Communications in Bord na Móna: “Since placing climate solutions at the centre of our strategy, we have successfully shifted the company to a position of financial strength which allows us to continue the company’s long-standing tradition of delivering, in a multitude of ways, for Ireland and our local communities.  We are keen to share this success by supporting entrepreneurs in the Midlands and the New Beginnings programme enables us to do this with our own employees who have been impacted by our transition away from peat.  The success of the recent programme has far exceeded our expectations and we are now working to launch the next New Beginnings course at the end of February.”