Galway business woman lashes out at Enterprise Board for lack of support
An impression that women-led business can avail of lucrative financial incentives has been ‘blown out of the water’ by the founder of two Galway enterprises that employ more than 50 people between them.
And she slammed the Galway City and County Enterprise Board for not providing her with meaningful financial assistance despite establishing two businesses in the Tuam area over the past year and a half.
The County Enterprise Board has told her that because she provides a professional service, her businesses do not fall within their remit to provide financial support.
Imelda O’Connor O’Dea has been in business for the past 25 years and apart from receiving €650 towards the establishment of a website, anything she has been involved in has been self-funded.
“There was an article in one of the Sunday newspapers recently which stated that women-led businesses have easier access to funding from state institutions but I am one of those who is certainly the exception”, she said.
Imelda has established a homecare service in Tuam which is being used quite regularly by the HSE West and has 50 homecare assistants on her books as well as providing employment for four full time staff.
She approached the Galway City and County Enterprise Board for funding to help her establish her business and despite meeting with officials, she was told that a service industry would not receive any financial support.
“I have taken people off the live register and now I have just developed a nutritional supplement for the elderly. This product is about to be branded and marketed and I have yet again been verbally refused funding.
“I have been refused for healthcare. I have been refused for consultancy (another company she established) and now I have been verbally refused for manufacturing. Being a woman in business seems to be more of a disadvantage than an advantage”, Imelda added.
She said that she was the co-founder of two companies in the last 18 months and had approached all agencies for funding.
“I received €650 as part funding for a website from the local enterprise board for one of the business but was actually refused the same grant for the second business. This is the only funding I have received,” she said
Imelda established A Ghrá Homecare Services in Tuam and this currently employs four full time staff. It is completely self-funded.
“We have 50 homecare assistants registered with us working on a part time basis with the company. When I went to the local enterprise board for funding for my second company which is a health and safety consultancy business, I was again refused funding.
“While the local enterprise board has offered mentoring, it comes at a cost of €50 an hour. Given my circumstances I cannot afford the cost of the mentoring or the time necessary to avail of it, as it is taking me all my time and funds and energy to make sure all staff and expenses are paid,” Imelda added.