Chocolate maker encourages participation in ACORNS programme

Georgia Quealy of Bon Chocolatiers, which started in Athlone in 2020 and is now based in Tullamore, is encouraging female entrepreneurs in Offaly and across the Midlands to apply for the next cycle of ACORNS, a free business development programme which was set up ten years ago to support early-stage female entrepreneurs.

The deadline for applications for this special 10th anniversary cycle is midnight, September 20. There are up to 50 places available for ACORNS 10. Those wishing to receive an application form should register on the website (www.acorns.ie).

Georgia, who is originally from Roscrea in Tipperary, set up Bon Chocolatiers with her boyfriend and business partners, Daniel Linehan, in Athlone in 2020. They create Irish artisan chocolates by hand in their chocolate factory in Tullamore: www.bonchocolatiers.ie

Georgia has successfully completed the ACORNS Plus programme – a follow-on initiative to the highly-successful ACORNS programme which supports early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland.

The free initiative for early-stage female entrepreneurs is funded through the Rural Innovation and Development Fund by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM).

Speaking about her own experience of ACORNS, Georgia Quealy said it had made “a huge difference” to her as businesswoman, and to the growth of Bon Chocolatiers. “It has given the network and support that is essential for growing a start-up business and getting to the next stages. The educational workshops and interactive roundtable sessions have helped me make structured action plans for the future. It has given me the skills to aim high with our goals and given me the belief that anything is possible. It is an experience I will be forever grateful for. To be surrounded by such inspiring businesswomen is an achievement in itself.”

ACORNS is based on the belief that early-stage entrepreneurs learn best from their peers. Participants interact with each other in the monthly round table sessions, which are facilitated by a Lead Entrepreneur, who has first-hand experience of starting and successfully growing a business in rural Ireland.

Only early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland, and who have had no sales before the end of June 2021, are eligible to apply. As ACORNS receives many more applications than there are places available, selection is on a competitive basis.

ACORNS 10 will run from October 2024 to April 2025 and will include six monthly round table sessions, a workshop on understanding financials, a briefing by various development agencies and an end-of-cycle celebration.

There will be no charge for those selected to participate in ACORNS 10, thanks to the continuing support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the voluntary contribution of time by the Lead Entrepreneurs.

While 57 participants completed ACORNS 9, the initiative also provided continued support to more than 300 past participants through the ACORNS Community, which provided them with the opportunity to take part in workshops, roundtables, a Community Forum and other networking events.