Call for Applications: Women Entrepreneurs Invited to Join New Programmes Driving Growth, Innovation and Scale Across the Island
AwakenHub Leading on Delivery of WeScale: A New All-Island Scaling Programme Empowering Women Founders to Achieve Strategic, Sustainable Growth
Women entrepreneurs across the island of Ireland are invited to apply for three new programmes designed to help them grow, innovate and scale their businesses. Launched by InterTradeIreland, in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, the programmes will be delivered under the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme. Pictured (front L-R) are Máirín Murray, TechFoundHer; Roisin McDermott, Women in Business NI; Emma Early Murphy, Network Ireland; Denise McQuaid, AwakenHub and (back L-R), Elaine Patterson, InterTradeIreland; Mary Gormley, Invest Northern Ireland; Michelle Billham, InterTradeIreland; Carol Gibbons, Enterprise Ireland and Sarah Mallon, Enterprise Ireland
AwakenHub today announced the launch of WeScale, a transformative new scaling initiative designed to support women founders across the island of Ireland to grow their businesses strategically, sustainably, and with confidence. Delivered as part of the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme and led by InterTradeIreland, in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, WeScale forms one of three flagship programmes created to accelerate women’s entrepreneurship across the island.
WeScale will provide participants with a robust, multi-layered support system, combining world-class learning, expert-led mentoring, tailored strategic planning, and access to investor networks. The programme builds on AwakenHub’s powerful community-driven model, offering women founders a peer environment that fosters resilience, ambition, and cross-border collaboration at scale.
Denise McQuaid of AwakenHub said: “AwakenHub is proud to lead on the WeScale initiative as part of the landmark Shared Island Enterprise Scheme, and to give women founders a permission slip to lead differently. This vital programme builds on our experience of providing women founders with the tools, mentorship, know-how, and networks they need to expand their businesses internationally, all supported by a vibrant, strong, and welcoming peer community sharing similar journeys.
“I encourage any woman founder, wherever they are on the island, who is interested in entering new markets, to take advantage of this opportunity and apply for the programme.”
Applications for WeScale are now open. Information on the programme and eligibility criteria is available at https://intertradeireland.com/entrepreneurship/womens-entrepreneurship/wescale.
Denise McQuaid
‘I encourage any woman founder, wherever they are on the island, who is interested in entering new markets, to take advantage of this opportunity and apply for the programme’
What is WeScale ?
WeScale is a three-year, all-island growth initiative that supports one cohort of eighteen women founders each year to scale strategically and sustainably. Delivered by AwakenHub in partnership with InterTradeIreland, Enterprise Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland, and Cranfield University, the programme blends world-class learning, bespoke mentoring, corporate and investor access. Over its three-year cycle, WeScale will build a dynamic cross-border community of innovative women-led businesses driving growth, investment, and impact across the island of Ireland.
Who is WeScale For?
WeScale is designed for ambitious women entrepreneurs leading established small and medium-sized enterprises across Ireland and Northern Ireland who are ready to scale. Whether you are expanding into new markets, growing your team, or preparing for investment, WeScale provides the structure, expertise, and community to take your business to the next level
Applications are now open.
Applications are now open. Information on the programmes and eligibility criteria is available now at https://intertradeireland.com/entrepreneurship/womens-entrepreneurship/wescale
Join the WeScale Information Session
We’re also hosting a live online WeScales Info Session on Wednesday 3 December, 10:00 –11:00 am where you’ll hear from previous scaled founders and get every question answered.
Please share this with any woman founder you know who’s ready to go to the next level. The stronger the applications, the stronger the cohort, the bigger the impact for all of us.
Let’s write the new playbook for scaling on this island, together.
In February 2024, the Government of Ireland announced €30m funding towards the establishment of a new Shared Island Enterprise Scheme developed by InterTradeIreland, Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. Among the priorities for the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme is fostering women’s entrepreneurship on an all-island basis.
ENDS
