More than 5,000 businesses have benefited from mentoring, training and strategic support as final places remain available nationwide.
Irish SMEs are being encouraged to apply for the remaining places on the MentorsWork business support programme as organisers seek to help more companies strengthen growth, innovation and competitiveness through expert mentoring and practical business guidance.
The award-winning initiative, delivered by the Small Firms Association (SFA) in partnership with Skillnet Ireland, has supported more than 5,000 businesses across Ireland and invested over €9 million in SME development since its launch.
“While SMEs are increasingly keen to explore emerging technologies such as agentic AI, many business owners struggle to find the time to look beyond the immediate demands of running their business”
Applications are now open for the final intake of the 2026 programme, with limited places available for business owners and managers employing between one and 250 people.
The 12-week programme combines one-to-one mentoring with expert-led masterclasses and peer learning opportunities. Participants are matched with experienced mentors and supported in areas including technology adoption, business development, finance, growth planning, people management and digitalisation.
Strategic guidance
Ken Finnegan, chief strategy officer at Skillnet Ireland, said the programme continues to provide important support for businesses seeking to develop new capabilities and remain competitive.
“The MentorsWork programme is a valuable upskilling resource for SMEs, providing practical support and strategic guidance to businesses across Ireland. As technologies such as AI continue to evolve, we are seeing growing interest from SME owners in how they can adopt new tools, develop their teams, and strengthen their competitive advantage in an increasingly dynamic business environment.”
David Broderick, director of the Small Firms Association, said the programme enables business owners to dedicate time to strategic planning and future growth.
“While SMEs are increasingly keen to explore emerging technologies such as agentic AI, many business owners struggle to find the time to look beyond the immediate demands of running their business. MentorsWork gives owners and managers the opportunity to step back, focus on the bigger picture and gain the skills, confidence and expert support needed to unlock new opportunities for growth.”
The programme aims to support more than 900 SMEs nationwide by the end of 2026. Organisers said the average participating business currently employs between one and 50 people, underlining the programme’s relevance for micro-enterprises and small businesses as well as larger SME organisations.
In addition to individual mentoring, participants can access workshops and masterclasses focused on key business priorities, including improving operational processes, managing finances, developing staff and identifying growth opportunities.
The latest intake comes as companies across a range of sectors seek support in adapting to changing market conditions and emerging technologies. Applications have been received from businesses operating in construction, manufacturing, retail, food and drink, healthcare and other industries.
While Dublin, Cork, Wicklow, Limerick and Galway have generated the largest volume of applications so far, MentorsWork is encouraging business owners and managers from every county to apply before the remaining places are filled.
Businesses interested in joining the 2026 programme can apply through the MentorsWork website and access mentoring and development support designed to help sustain and grow their operations.
Image at top: Ken Finnegan, Chief Strategy Officer, Skillnet Ireland, Denise Lord, MentorsWork National Initiative Manager and David Broderick, Director, Small Firms Association
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