Údarás na Gaeltachta i gcomhpháirt le EMPOWER ag seoladh clár píolótach nua CUMASÚ dírithe ar fhiontraithe mná
Tá clár nua do fhiontraithe mná sa nGaeltacht á chur ar fáil ag Údarás na Gaeltachta, i gcomhpháirt leis an gclár EMPOWER, clár tacaíochta saor in aisce de chuid moil nuálaíochta Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh. Tá an clár nua dírithe ar chúnamh a thabhairt do mhná atá i mbun fiontraíochta agus beidh sé dírithe go sonrach ar fhiontraithe mná i gceantair Ghaeltachta na Gaillimhe agus Mhaigh Eo.
Cuireann EMPOWER dhá chlár ar leith ar fáil, TÚS (START) atá dírithe ar dhaoine a bhfuil smaoineamh gnó acu atá siad ag iarraidh a iniúchadh agus FÁS (GROWTH) do fhiontraithe atá i mbun gnó cheana féin agus atá ag iarradh a ngnó a fhás agus a fhorbairt.
Tá EMPOWER ar an bhfód ó 2017, nuair a bunaíodh é mar gheall ar an éileamh láidir ó chomhlachtaí nuabhunaithe a bhí faoi stiúir ban san iarthar. Ó shin i leith tá an-tóir ar an gclár. Fuarthas 450 iarratas don bhabhta deireadh (320 don chlár TÚS, agus 130 don chlár FÁS, atá feiliúnach do mhná a bhfuil gnó acu cheana féin agus iad ag iarraidh an gnó sin a fhás nó a fhorbairt). Ghlac 65 bean páirt in EMPOWER II agus dá bharr, fostaíodh 65 duine, d'éirigh leis na rannpháirtithe €10m maoinithe a mhealladh agus seoladh 148 táirge nua.
Dúirt Maria Staunton, Comhordaitheoir EMPOWER 2 “Tá ag éirí thar barr leis an gclár Empower agus tá sé ag cur go mór le forbairt an réigiúin seo. Tá muid ag tnúth anois le CUMASÚ a fheidhmiú i gceantair Ghaeltachta Mhaigh Eo agus na Gaillimhe. Is scéim phíolótach í seo agus tá súil againn torthaí den scoth a fheiceáil ag eascairt as.”
Déanann CUMASÚ – TÚS tástáil ar smaointe do ghnóthaí nua, go bhfeicfear an mbeadh glacadh leo sa margadh. Tá sé dírithe ar mhná a bhfuil smaoineamh gnó nua acu agus atá níos lú ná bliana in mbun gnó. Is saineolaithe i ngnóthaí luathstaid a chuireann an clár saor in aisce seo ar fáil, ar bhonn páirtaimseartha ar feadh 12 seachtainí. Cuireann sé seo ar chumas na mban atá ag glacadh páirt, aird a thabhairt ar aon riachtanas clainne agus a ngnó a fhorbairt agus a phleanáil ag an am céanna.
“Sna blianta seo caite, bhí réimse leathan gnóthaí páirteach sa gclár agus b’iontach na mná seo a fheiceáil ag éirí níos muiníní agus ag baint amach a gcuid spriocanna gairmiúla féin. Tá mé ag tnúth go mór leis an gcaidreamh le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta a fhorbairt.”
Dúirt Seán Ó Coisdealbha, bainisteoir réigiún an iarthair do Údarás na Gaeltachta, “Is iontach an deis í CUMASÚ don Gaeltacht le buntáiste a bhaint as an dea-chleachtas atá cruthaithe ag Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh chun fiontraithe mná a fhorbairt. Beidh muid ag baint lánbhuntáiste as an teicneolaíocht sa Gteic chun an saineolas sin a bheith ar leac an dorais, do rannpháirtithe mná, ar fud Gaeltacht an Iarthair.”
Ta líon teoranta spásanna ar an gcúrsa agus caithfear iarratas a dhéanamh roimh an 16 Nollaig ag 5.in.
Déan iarratas ag:
Údarás na Gaeltachta and EMPOWER partner to launch pilot programme, CUMASÚ focusing on female entrepreneurs
A new programme for female entrepreneurs in the Gaeltacht areas of Mayo and Galway is being is being launched by Údarás na Gaeltachta, in partnership with the Empower Programme, a free initiative run by the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Innovation Hubs that aims to promote and fast-track female entrepreneurship.
EMPOWER was established back in 2017 in response to demand for female start-ups in the region and have since been inundated with requests from women seeking to undertake this programme. In the last EMPOWER II Programme just recently completed over 450 applications were received (320 for Start and 130 for Growth). A total of 65 females participated on EMPOWER II, from these 65 new employees were hired, over €10m was raised in finance and 148 new products launched.
Maria Staunton EMPOWER Coordinator stated “The EMPOWER Programme has been a tremendous success to-date and of huge benefit to the regional locally. We are looking forward to rolling CUMASÚ out now to the Gaeltacht areas of Mayo and Galway. This is a pilot scheme, and we are hoping to see great results also In EMPOWER Start II, 83% of the female founders went on to start new businesses.”
This free programme is delivered part-time over 12 weeks by start-up experts. This allows participants to balance their family commitments while at the same time planning and developing their new business. The opportunity is to test start up idea(s) for customer acceptance. ‘In the last few years, we have had such a diverse range of businesses take part in each programme and it has been just fantastic to be involved and to watch these women grow in confidence and reach their own professional milestones. I am looking forward to developing this relationship with Údarás na Gaeltachta into the future and helping this programme develop.
Seán Ó Coisdealbha, Údarás na Gaeltachta western regional manager said “This is a great opportunity for the Gaeltacht to benefit from the good practices developed by the ATU to develop and support female entrepreneurs – we look forward to CUMASÚ making full use of the Gteic network to ensure that this knowledge and expertise can be delivered locally to women participants in the Gaeltacht regions of the west.”
Prospective applicants can apply for a limited amount of spaces until 16th December at 5pm.
Application Form at:
Issued by Regina Daly, Atlantic TU Communications
Tel: +353 (0)91 742826 Mob: +353 (0)879618355
regina.daly@atu.ie www.atu.ie/news