Established in 1992, Inner City Enterprise (ICE) helps unemployed people to establish businesses in Dublin. Since relaunching after the crash, it has assisted in the launch of more than 1,500 businesses
In this Q&A, founders tell BusinessPlus.ie about their background, experience with ICE and their ambitions for the future, starting with fitness trainer and neuromuscular masseur/trainer Evan Pierce
My business combines neuromuscular therapy and personal training to help people move better, feel stronger, and live with less pain and physical restriction
I provide personalised hands-on therapy alongside tailored exercise and strength programmes, helping clients address muscular imbalances, improve mobility, build strength, and achieve their individual health and fitness goals
Before moving into neuromuscular therapy and personal training, I played professional football
Football had always been a huge part of my life, so when I was released from the game, I found myself at a crossroads and had to consider what I wanted to do next
I naturally gravitated towards coaching and working with people. I realised that I had a genuine passion for helping others improve physically, build confidence and reach their goals
My own experiences as a professional athlete also gave me a strong understanding of the importance of movement, strength, injury prevention and recovery
What started through coaching eventually developed into a career that allowed me to combine my experience in professional sport with my passion for helping people
I decided to establish my own business so I could use that knowledge and experience to provide a more personalised approach, helping clients not only become fitter and stronger, but also move and feel better in everyday life
I chose to apply to Inner City Enterprise because I wanted guidance on how to develop my business in the right way and make informed decisions about its future
I had the passion, experience and knowledge from my background in professional football, coaching and therapy, but I wanted to better understand the business side and how to turn my skills into asustainable and successful business
I felt that Inner City Enterprise could provide the support, advice and direction I needed to build a strong foundation, develop my business strategy and identify the best way to grow
It was an opportunity to learn from experienced people, gain a clearer understanding of what my business needed, and make sure I was taking the right steps towards achieving my long-term goals
I received amazing support from Brendan and Laura at Inner City Enterprise. From the beginning, they were both very approachable and genuinely invested in helping me develop my business
They gave me valuable advice on how to manage and structure the business, but what I found particularly helpful was that they shared their own experiences — including things they felt they had done well and things they would have done differently
That honest and practical advice gave me a different perspective and helped me avoid some of the mistakes that can come with starting a business
They also supported me with my business plan, pricing and the different areas involved in running and developing a business
Their guidance gave me more confidence in my decisions and helped me understand the business side of what I was trying to build
I’m very grateful for the time, knowledge and support they gave me, as it has helped me put a much stronger foundation in place for thefuture
The business is doing really well, and I’m very proud of how far it has come
At this stage, I’ve had the opportunity to work with hundreds of clients from a wide range of backgrounds,including professional boxers, Olympic-level boxers and triathletes, as well as people from the general public who simply want to improve their health, fitness and quality of life
Looking ahead, I have big plans for the business. One of my main goals is to expand into my own dedicated space, which would allow me to grow the services I offer and work with even more people
I’d also love to reach a point where I can employ someone and create an opportunity for another person to build a career alongside me
I believe there is a huge opportunity in this industry, particularly as people are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of their health, fitness, movement and recovery
My goal is to continue building on what I’ve started, grow the business sustainably and create a place that can help as many people as possible
My ambition is to build the business into a recognised and trustedcentre for strength, fitness, recovery and performance. I’d like to have my own dedicated facility where I can bring together neuromuscular therapy, personal training and performancecoaching under one roof
I also want to create a business that provides opportunities for other people. As the business grows, I’d like to employ a small team of like-minded therapists and trainers who share thesame passion for helping people
Coming from a background in professional football, I know how important it is to have the right people around you, and I’d love to create that environment for others
Ultimately, I want to build something that has a lasting impact — not only helping professional athletes perform at their best, but also helping everyday people become stronger, healthier and more confident
I’d like the business to continue growing while staying true to the personal approach and passion that it was built on
I have a very strong connection to the Inner City, both personally and through my involvement with Inner City Enterprise
I was born and raised on Sheriff Street in Dublin 1 and lived there until I was 16, when I left for four years to pursue my career in professionalfootball
After that period, I returned home and have been based in the area ever since. My relationship with Inner City Enterprise has grown beyond just receiving support for my business
I’ve taken part in their Young Entrepreneurship course, spoken at two of their events and have also had the opportunity to sit down with the team over coffee and lunch to discuss my business ideas and plans
Being from the area myself makes that connection particularly meaningful
Photo: Evan Pierce. (Pic: supplied)
