New funding for female entrepreneurs has been announced

New funding has been announced for female entrepreneurs living in Counties Cork and Limerick.

The Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN) project will see more than €330,000 in funding, provided by the Department of Justice and Equality and the European Social Fund (ESF), allocated to promote entrepreneurial skills amongst women in these regions.

SECAD (South & East Cork Area Development) will lead the project, working in partnership with Ballyhoura Development in Limerick and Cork, the Cork Institute of Technology’s Rubicon Centre, and the Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence.

Speaking at the launch of WREN, Minister of State for Justice and Equality David Stanton said it will provide valuable support to women considering self-employment or those with a good idea that want to create a business.

In the WREN project, training programmes will include personal development and business skills training, one-to-one and group mentoring, female ‘role model’ sharing of experience and support, themed networking and experiential learning events, formation and facilitation of facilitated networking sessions, and a networking/business pitching event.

Suzanne Kearney, assistant CEO of SECAD, said: “The programme will provide the option of accredited training as well as business and employment supports.”

The WREN Project is co-funded by the Irish Government and the ESF.