Following the successful pilot, Going for Growth, has recently been selected by the EU as an example of good practice and was showcased at the beginning of October at an EU sponsored  conference in Stockholm. I am writing to ask your assistance in spreading the word and in identifying suitable candidates.

Thanks to funding and support by the European Social Fund, Enterprise Ireland and the Equality for Women Measure, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and the willingness of the lead entrepreneurs to contribute their time voluntarily, successful applicants are once again not required to pay for participation in the programme. They just need to cover their own expenses.

The framework of the programme is to place selected applicants at one of eight ‘roundtables’, facilitated and led by an experienced female lead entrepreneur. The sessions are not intended as training modules and the initiative is not a ‘grow your business’ course. Rather, the round-table sessions are designed to foster development through structured, agenda-led discussion within the group about various aspects of business expansion and growth.

Suitable applicants to the programme will have a strong determination to growing their business and will be willing to commit fully to the initiative. While this programme is not suitable for everyone, it represents a valuable opportunity for those that are actively seeking to expand their business.

The Going for Growth pilot commenced in November 2007 and ran until June 2008. Feedback from the pilot has been extremely positive and over 75% of participants, interviewed after the completion of the pilot, felt that the Going for Growth sessions had translated into significant practical change within their businesses.

If you feel that you know someone that could get particular value from participation in Going for Growth, please direct them to the website at www.goingforgrowth.com where they can access additional information, including testimonials from past participants and lead entrepreneurs, and request an application form. Alternatively, please forward the attached e-brochure to them.

As the closing date for receipt of fully completed applications is 27 November 2009, I would urge you to move on this without delay.