What Together Academy does

Together Academy is an Irish registered charity (CHY 15750) and a project of the Down Syndrome Centre, founded by Therese Coveney in 2017 and operating from Ballsbridge in Dublin. The organisation provides young adults with Down syndrome (age 21+) certified training, practical work experience, employer-matched employment pathways, and ongoing post-employment support. Its core educational offering is a 2-year QQI Level 3 Employability Skills programme focused on culinary, hospitality, and retail skills, co-delivered with the Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB), supplemented by a 20-week Vocational Training Programme run twice yearly and a Workplace Readiness Accelerator Programme. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations run on standard café equipment, training kitchens, and basic digital tools (MailChimp, Instagram, an e-commerce shop, and a website built in-kind by Global Payments).

The business model blends charitable grants, social-enterprise trading, and corporate partnerships. Funding sources include multi-annual grants from Pobal, the EU Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training Programme (EIST) 2021-2027 co-financed by the Department of Social Protection, the Dormant Accounts Fund, and Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, alongside donations and in-kind contributions from Bread 41, Strathroy Dairy, Torc Candles, McGowans Print, and corporate donors including Rabo Bank, Mercer, Grant Thornton, Goodbody, Avolon, and the JP McManus Charitable Foundation. The organisation generates trading revenue from three training café locations — the Together Café at Wanderers Rugby Club (Ballsbridge), the Happy Out x Together Academy joint-venture café at Dun Laoghaire Baths, and the SMBC Aviation Capital café at Fitzwilliam 28 — together with corporate catering, branded merchandise (€5–€8 per unit), pay-as-you-go Diversity and Inclusion training priced at €12 per person per session, and tax-deductible donations. Employer partners such as Sprout, JLL, The Merrion Hotel, Artizan Food Co, and Lifestyle Sports provide work-experience placements and paid employment pathways for graduates.

Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored in the Down Syndrome Centre referral network, family word-of-mouth, corporate volunteer programmes (including 70+ Transition Year students), ministerial visibility, and earned media (Café of the Year from the Irish Independent). The team of approximately 12 staff spans education, vocational training, café operations, therapeutic services, pathways-to-employment, and communications, supported by specialist roles in D&I training and finance. Strategic positioning is centred on being the only dedicated QQI-certified college in Ireland serving adults with Down syndrome.

Name

Together Academy

Legal name

Together Academy

Website

https://www.togetheracademy.ie

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Together Academy is an Irish registered charity and social enterprise delivering QQI Level 3 certified training, café-based work experience, and employer-matched employment pathways for young adults with Down syndrome across Dublin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Employment Training Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)

Keywords

• Disability employment training
• Vocational skills training
• Special needs education
• Social enterprise cafe
• Inclusive workplace training

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Café and Catering Sales: Revenue from the Together Academy training café in Ballsbridge (Wanderers Rugby Club) and corporate catering services. The café is open to the public and also serves SMBC Aviation Capital employees. Additional revenue streams include hosting meetings and workshops in the café space.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including mugs (€5), bottles (€8), aprons (€8), baseball caps (€8), tea towels (€8), and wood & silicone kitchen utensils (€5). Sold through the on-site shop and e-commerce.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Donations accepted via the website and at events. The organisation is a registered charity (CHY 15750) and project of the Down Syndrome Centre. Donations as small as €5 are encouraged.
4. Government and EU Funding: Funding received from Pobal and Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education & Training Board (DDLETB) for classroom and training programmes. The Expand Programme is co-financed by the EU Employment, Inclusion, Skills, and Training Programme (EIST) 2021-2027 and the Department of Social Protection (DSP). Additional funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund.
5. Diversity & Inclusion Training: Fees charged to organisations for bespoke Diversity & Inclusion workshops, delivered to leadership teams, departments, or organisation-wide. Also includes Access to Work grant guidance (WA2 form support).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Together Academy is a charitable social enterprise that delivers QQI Level 3 accredited training programmes in culinary, hospitality and retail to young adults with Down syndrome, alongside real work experience in three operating cafés. It also runs a Workplace Readiness Accelerator, a Pathways to Employment matching service, paid Diversity & Inclusion workshops for organisations, corporate catering, and a small line of branded merchandise, all in service of tackling the 90% unemployment rate for adults with Down syndrome in Ireland.

Product overview

Together Academy is a social enterprise and training initiative providing young adults with Down syndrome specialised educational programmes and employment pathways. The core offering consists of two training programmes (a 2-year QQI Level 3 Employability Skills programme with culinary/hospitality/retail focus, and a 20-week Vocational Training Programme) supported by Pathways to Employment services. Practical training is delivered through multiple social enterprise cafés: the main Training Café at Wanderers Rugby Club, the Happy Out x Together Academy café at Dun Laoghaire Baths, and the SMBC Aviation Capital staff café. Additional offerings include Diversity & Inclusion Training for organisations and Corporate Catering services. The organisation also sells branded merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Happy Out x Together Academy: A collaborative café partnership at Dun Laoghaire Baths, operated by an integrated team from Happy Out and Together Academy graduates.
• SMBC AC x Together Academy

Products and services

• Together Academy Training Programme A 2-year certified training programme (QQI Level 3 Employability Skills) with strands in Culinary, Hospitality and Retail. Delivered to young adults with Down syndrome and combines classroom learning with practical work experience in operating training cafés.
• Vocational Training Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• 16 students graduated from the inaugural 2023 class; 3 graduates secured paid employment at Sprout within 3 months
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• SMBC Aviation CapitalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024SMBC Aviation Capital partnered with Together Academy to develop a purpose-built training college and café within their landmark Fitzwilliam 28 offices in Dublin 2. The ground floor café serves SMBC employees, tenants, and clients. The programme is supported by a multi-annual grant from Pobal.
• William FryminorOthers · 1 November 2023William Fry partnered with Together Academy in November 2023, providing legal advice as the academy and café initiatives grow.
• Happy Out CaféflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Happy Out and Together Academy operate a joint venture café at the historic Dun Laoghaire Baths following a public tender by DLR County Council. The café is staffed by an integrated team of Happy Out and Together Academy graduates. Founder Brian Hanratty of Happy Out was inspired by Together Academy's vision and helped train early students.
• JLLcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023JLL partnered with Together Academy to provide work experience opportunities for students. Graduate Orla Casey joined the JLL team supporting in-house events, day-to-day operations, and client greetings.
• The Merrion HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The Merrion Hotel is a new corporate partner hosting the inaugural graduation ceremony on 1 June 2023 and providing ongoing work experience and employment opportunities for two students in their 5-star hotel operations.
• Dunnes StoresminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2022Dunnes Stores Cornelscourt hosted a Together Academy pop-up shop (3–13 November 2022) where students sold branded merchandise. Due to the success of the initial pop-up, Dunnes invited students back for an extended run. Provides purposeful work days and customer service experience.
• Down Syndrome CentrecoreOthersTogether Academy is an initiative of the Down Syndrome Centre in Ireland. The Centre was founded by Peter and Mary Gaw, parents of four children, two of whom have Down syndrome. The Centre's mission and community network underpin Together Academy's beneficiary pipeline and advocacy base.
• Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education & Training Board (DDLETB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDDLETB is Together Academy's primary education and certification partner, delivering the QQI Level 3 Employability Skills programme (2-year course) alongside the Academy. This partnership provides formal accreditation for students.
• Artizan Food CocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtizan Food Co is SMBC Aviation Capital's food and catering partner operating within Fitzwilliam 28. They offer training and learning opportunities for Together Academy students in their restaurant and catering services, with a view to future work placements.
• Lifestyle Sports DundrumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLifestyle Sports Dundrum has employed Together Academy students for work experience, providing retail customer service training. Student Jack was noted as working very well with customers by store staff.
• SproutcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSprout is a key employer partner that has hired multiple Together Academy graduates (Jamie, Laoise, Matthew) in paid roles across their Baggot Street, Monkstown, and other Dublin locations. Described as creating 'amazing opportunities' with three graduates hired within three months.
• Bread 41coreOthersBread 41 donates all the bread needed each week to support the training café's operations. Their in-kind donation is credited as the reason for the café's 'famous sandwiches' in Dublin 4.
• Strathroy DairycoreOthersStrathroy Dairy donates milk and other dairy products to Together Academy each week, supporting the training café without requesting anything in return.
• McGowans PrintminorOthersMcGowans Print is a family-run printing business that provides ongoing in-kind printing support to Together Academy.
• Torc CandlesminorOthersTorc Candles partnered with Together Academy students to design, scent, and package the 'Glow Together' candle range, hand-poured by Torc. Sold through pop-up shops and the online store.
• Wanderers Rugby ClubcoreOthersWanderers Rugby Club is the home of the primary Together Academy training café and academy location in Ballsbridge, Dublin. The partnership enables the 7-day-a-week café operations and training kitchen facilities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Change Please: UK social enterprise coffee company that trains and employs people experiencing homelessness, operating café carts and shops. Closely comparable business model — hospitality social enterprise providing vocational training and employment outcomes through coffee and food service.
• Project SEARCH: International school-to-work transition programme for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, embedded in host businesses. Directly comparable model of combined classroom + work-based learning and employer partnership for employment outcomes.
• National Learning Network (NLN): Ireland's largest non-government training organisation, delivering QQI-validated vocational training to people with disabilities and mental health challenges. Directly comparable as a QQI-accredited training provider focused on employment outcomes for people with additional needs.

Broad incumbents

• Down Syndrome Ireland: National umbrella charity for people with Down syndrome in Ireland and the wider Down Syndrome Centre parent network. Comparable as the parent advocacy body whose beneficiary pipeline feeds into Together Academy; overlapping mission in Down syndrome employment and inclusion.
• Rehab Group: Large Irish nonprofit providing training, education and employment services to people with disabilities and disadvantaged groups. Comparable as a broader-scope operator in disability vocational training and supported employment across Ireland.
• Cope Foundation: Cork-based disability service provider delivering education, training, employment and day services to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Comparable as a regional Irish peer operating employment and vocational programmes for adults with intellectual disabilities.
• WALK: Dublin-based voluntary organisation providing services to adults with intellectual disabilities, including training and supported employment. Comparable as an Irish peer offering vocational preparation and employment pathways for the same beneficiary cohort.
• Irish Association of Supported Employment (IASE): National membership body supporting the development of supported employment in Ireland, working alongside disability service providers. Comparable as a peer ecosystem body focused on disability employment pathways and employer engagement.

Regional players

• KARE: Kildare-based disability service provider offering training, employment supports and social enterprises. Comparable as an Irish regional peer running training cafés and employment programmes for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Others

• Special Olympics Ireland: National sports and inclusion charity for people with intellectual disabilities. Thematically adjacent rather than directly competitive — comparable as an Irish peer operating mission-led programmes and employer-facing inclusion initiatives for the Down syndrome and ID community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/togetheracademy.ie

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Together Academy