A new Level 8 micro-credential for business advisors, built on research from the Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence. Ten weekly online workshops, starting October 2026.

Most professional development for advisors focuses on sector knowledge. This course focuses on something advisors use in every sector: process. It builds the judgement to ask the right question, test the right assumption, and know the moment a client needs something you cannot give them.

The methods come from the strongest current evidence on how advisors drive SME profitability and revenue growth, and they travel well. The same approaches have worked in film production, agricultural innovation, tech start-ups and social enterprise, so they hold regardless of an advisor's own sector.

Across ten workshops, participants work through four core methods: visualising client goals, strategy and milestones; identifying and testing the key assumptions inside a client's strategy; coaching clients to implement strategy at daily and weekly level; and diagnosing when a client needs further specialist support. Alongside these, participants build the underlying skills of questioning, listening, constructively challenging assumptions, building accountability, and letting clients keep ownership of their own decisions.

The format stays light: ninety minutes a week, online, no coursework outside the sessions. Participants leave with a full set of resources, slides, videos and notes ready to use with their own clients from week one.

The other benefit is the room. Places are capped at twenty, and each cohort brings together advisors working in very different contexts. That peer exchange is often what people value most.

The course suits people in business advisory, enterprise support, training and facilitation, accountancy, mentoring and coaching, consultancy, incubation and start-up support, and regional development. Applicants should have some experience advising or training SMEs, or be about to start. Where possible, participants are encouraged to try the methods with real clients as the course runs, though this is not required.

Course details
Course: Effective Business Advice (MGMT7107), NFQ Level 8, 2 credits
Delivery: Online, ten weekly 90-minute workshops
Dates: Thursdays, 14:00–15:30 Irish time, 15 October–17 December 2026
Attendance: At least 8 of 10 sessions, including the final session on 17 December
Places: 20
Fee: €350
Applications close: 7 October 2026