All-Island Growth Opportunities – Suzanne’s Story

Monday 22 June 2026

Suzanne is the co-founder of an structural engineering company, ClearTech Consulting Engineers, established in 2010, operating across Ireland and internationally, with operations in the Republic of Ireland, the UK, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Cayman Islands.

When Suzanne first heard about the Grow It All Island programme through Network Ireland, she was unsure whether it was the right fit for her.

At the time, Suzanne was seeking practical guidance on business growth, including support to develop a clear growth plan, identify new routes to market and strengthen her sales and marketing skills. Most importantly, she wanted to build the confidence needed to support the next stage of her company's growth.

Developing Confidence as a Business Leader
One of the most significant outcomes of the Grow It All Island programme for Suzanne has been her personal development as a business leader.

She describes the programme as exceeding her expectations, providing not only expert training and support but also valuable learning opportunities through the experiences and perspectives of fellow participants. While the businesses represented on the programme were diverse and not every topic was directly relevant to her sector, Suzanne found there was always something valuable to take away.

“There was a really great dynamic energy at each session. Lots of learning came from the open discussions in the room. The support and positivity from the other participants have really helped me personally in my journey, and Roisin and Emma’s energy is pivotal to the success of the programme.”

The combination of structured learning, peer support and shared experiences helped Suzanne develop greater confidence in herself and her leadership abilities. Today, she feels more confident, more assertive and more capable of making important business decisions.

This increased confidence has already translated into tangible success. Suzanne recently won the Network Ireland Kildare Branch STEM Professional of the Year Award, . In addition, Suzanne has been accepted onto the EY Winning Women programme, which is a global initiative designed to support and empower ambitious female entrepreneurs to scale and grow their business.

Strengthening Professional Skills
The programme also helped Suzanne develop her professional capabilities in ways she did not anticipate.

While she expected to improve her sales and marketing knowledge, she found additional value in the discussions generated by other participants during training sessions. Hearing different business experiences and challenges often provided insights that extended beyond the formal course content.

Suzanne acknowledges that some elements of the programme were more relevant to certain sectors than others. Topics such as social media marketing tended to focus on business-to-consumer industries, while some finance sessions were more applicable to early-stage businesses or specific company structures.

Despite this, she found significant value in the Growth Sprint process and in the mentoring support she received from Diane Roberts.

Although she initially found the Growth Sprint tool a little overwhelming, Suzanne says it ultimately became an important learning experience. Likewise, while mentoring sessions were sometimes challenging, she believes this was exactly what she needed.

“I wasn’t comfortable starting the mentoring, but that only proved how important it is to challenge ourselves and reach outside our comfort zones.”

Expanding Networks and Exploring New Opportunities
The programme also broadened Suzanne's understanding of the support available to businesses looking to grow.

Her company has been self-funded for the past 15 years, and funding opportunities had not previously been part of her growth strategy. Through connections made during the programme, particularly with Invest NI and InterTradeIreland, Suzanne is now actively exploring external support options.

The cross-border element of the programme was particularly valuable. Although her company had completed occasional projects in Northern Ireland in the past, it had never actively targeted the market.

The programme helped her recognise the potential opportunities available and gave her direct contacts to support future growth.

"Now I can see real benefit in investing time in opportunities to do further business in Northern Ireland."

Turning Learning into Action
Suzanne believes the programme has given her renewed focus and energy, helping her establish stronger foundations for future growth.

While she recognises that meaningful business change takes time, she has already implemented several practical improvements within the company.

These include:

Introducing regular weekly team meetings and monthly financial reviews.
Aligning team objectives to improve clarity and focus.
Developing a new finance dashboard to support decision-making.
Establishing a clear strategy for international trade visits and market development activities.

For Suzanne, these changes represent the beginning of a longer-term growth journey built on stronger leadership, greater confidence and clearer strategic direction.

Outcomes Achieved to Date

Implemented a new finance dashboard to support business decision-making.
Adopted a clear strategy for trade trips and international market development.
Applied to the InterTradeIreland Acumen Programme for financial support.
Actively investigating new business opportunities in Northern Ireland.
Won the Network Ireland Kildare Branch STEM Professional of the Year Award.
Accepted onto the EY Winning Women Programme.
Increased confidence and self-belief as a business leader.
Established stronger internal business processes and team alignment.

Find out more about ClearTech Consulting Engineers and be sure to connect with Suzanne on LinkedIn.

If you're ready to explore business growth opportunities across the island, just like Suzanne, now is your moment to apply for the WeGrow Programme.

The WeGrow all-island programme, led by InterTradeIreland in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, is part of the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme, funded by the Government of Ireland. The delivery partner for WeGrow isWomen in Business NI and Network Ireland.

Applications close at 12pm on Friday 4th September 2026 - sign up to our online info session on Thursday 25th June.

Monday 22 June 2026