MentorsWork, the award-winning initiative delivered by the Small Firms Association (SFA) in partnership with Skillnet Ireland, the national workforce development agency, is encouraging business owners and SMEs across Sligo to apply for the 2026 programme, as only a limited number of places remain.
Open to business owners and managers employing between one and 250 people, the award-winning 12-week programme pairs each participant with a dedicated, experienced mentor and gives them access to expert-led masterclasses and peer learning, building the skills and confidence to adopt new technology, win new business and drive sustainable growth.
Ken Finnegan, Chief Strategy Officer, Skillnet Ireland, said: “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: “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.”
With plans to support more than 900 SMEs nationally by the end of 2026, the average business joining the programme currently employs between one and 50 people, highlighting that MentorsWork is designed as much for micro and small businesses as for larger SMEs. Alongside one-to-one mentoring, participants gain access to peer workshops and masterclasses covering people management, business processes, finance, growth strategies and digitalisation.
The final intake comes as SMEs across Ireland look to secure a competitive edge in a changing business environment. The programme is attracting applicants from a wide range of sectors, including construction, manufacturing, retail, food and drink, and healthcare. While the highest number of applications to date have come from Dublin, Cork, Wicklow, Limerick and Galway, MentorsWork is encouraging business owners and managers in every county to take up the remaining places before applications close.
SMEs interested in the MentorsWork programme can apply now and take the first step toward sustaining and growing their businesses. For more information or to apply for the 2026 programme, visit Main | MentorsWork.