WIN – a new forum for unemployed and start-ups

A new training, mentoring and networking forum for unemployed professionals and entrepreneurs called WIN (West of Ireland Networking) has been launched in Galway.

Based at the Cairnes School of Business and Economics, NUI Galway, WIN is a volunteer organisation that helps to get unemployed people back into the workplace while providing further supports to those seeking to start their own business or already running a small enterprise.

Launching the network, Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton TD said it was “an excellent example of what people and communities can do to help people get back to work and to help entrepreneurs start the successful businesses we so badly need”.

A recent survey sampling 106 participants of WIN showed that 34pc were reengaging in the workplace; 14pc were actively interviewing; 28pc were working on potential business start-up; and 24pc were new participants.

“To date there has been a lack of support, training and services for the ‘unexpected unemployed’ or the ‘new unemployed’ in Ireland and WIN has successfully filled this gap,” said CEO and founder of WIN, Caroline McDonagh.

“WIN recognises that if these skills are lost to Ireland, they could be gone forever. WIN is the necessary vehicle to ensure that these skills are retained and enhanced and used to drive and grow our economy.”

Image Captions: From left: president of NUI Galway, Dr James J. Browne; Caroline McDonagh, CEO, WIN; Dr Emer Mulligan, head of the J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics, NUI Galway; and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD.