Back for Business’ Post

"𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱𝘆. 𝗡𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 - 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀." 𝘖𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦 It was a text message from my mother late last year that started it all. Having ignored far too much of her advice over the years, I couldn't be more grateful in heeding it on this occasion. She suggested the Back for Business programme, hearing of it on the radio. With my return to Ireland after many years in London imminent, I decided to look into it... And so over the past six months, it has been a privilege to be part of this initiative -spearheaded by Paula Fitzsimons - who seek to promote entrepreneurial activity amongst those returning to Ireland. Our final round-table and 'graduation' event was held at The Merrion Hotel, Dublin last week and it was wonderful to meet with other groups within the programme and hear their stories of challenge and success: Kim Whyte Dave McCormack Deborah Kilroy Brian O'Driscoll to name but a few. A particular thank you also to my own round-table group: Pauline D. Vincent Joyner Oonagh O'Brien Emma Collopy Aoife Lafferty from whom I learned a huge amount and whose future successes I look forward to seeing. I am especially grateful to Thomas Ennis for his humour, insights, honesty and time as our lead entrepreneur. Without his support, Polaris Teams Ltd would still be a very rough and unpolished idea instead of a recently-launched and viable business; thank you. Finally a thank you to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland for their kind sponsorship: Go raibh míle maith agaibh.