HomeBusiness programmes
We provide a range of programmes to help businesses in Belfast enhance their own competitiveness and growth potential. All our business programmes are listed below. Also take a look at our business eventsCurrent programmes
Advanced Industry Materials Saving Programme
This programme will help businesses save money by analysing the flow, quality and sustainability of materials incorporated in products and services.
Blick Studios Business Incubation
This project aims to develop a creative incubation unit in Belfast to help the creative industries and promote education, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Buy/Make/Sell
This World Trade Centre Belfast programme offers participants an exciting opportunity to improve their global operations.
Creative Collaborations ProgrammeIf you are interested in opportunities across the creative industry sectors of film and television, digital media, music and design find out about our Creative Collaborations Programme on 10 February 2010.
Enterprise Skills for Youth Programme
This programme helps young people, aged 18 - 30, find out what it's like to run a business. They also get to meet other young business owners.
Grow and Compete Programme
This programme helps small businesses to develop in areas such as sales, marketing and finance to assist with future growth.
Plato Manufacturing Programme
The programme helps local manufacturing companies improve their competitiveness and drive business growth within the sector. Currently closed for recruitment.
Retail Therapy ProgrammeWould you like to make your business more competitive? This programme is tailored specifically for the independent retail sector.
Rural Development Programme
£8.7 million is available to invest in projects in rural areas in Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh.
Smarter Procurement Programme
This programme helps small businesses identify and take advantage of new sales opportunities in the public and private sectors.
South by Southwest South by Southwest (SXSW) is a set of interactive, film, and music festivals and conferences that take place every spring in Austin, Texas.
Belfast Enterprise Academy
This programme supports university students through a tailored mentoring programme to develop business ideas and plan business opportunities.
Business Improvement through Environmental Solutions Programme (BITES)
BITES is a business development initiative designed to help businesses reduce waste and energy, boost profits and help the environment.
Creativity Thirst
This programme enables participants, from the creative sector, to develop a business plan and portfolio as well as get guidance from their mentor.
Dare to be Digital
This is a unique digital product development project that offers a technology team the opportunity to develop digital concepts and ideas.
Franchising Initiative
This initiative is aimed at helping entrepreneurs and businesses to start or expand their businesses through franchising.
Hospitality and Retail Training for Employment Programme
This programme targets the long-term unemployed by providing job training opportunities in the hospitality and retail industries.
Pre-enterprise Social Economy Programme
This programme helps community organisations or individuals who want to find out more about becoming a social enterprise.
Retail Masterclasses for Independent Retailers Our masterclasses help to improve customer service, motivate staff, maximise marketing opportunities and improve sales.
Stepping Stone to Success Programme
This programme helps small businesses to develop the practical skills necessary to think strategically and develop plans for future growth. Currently closed for recruitment.
Strategy in Business Initiative
This programme helps small businesses to develop the practical skills necessary to think strategically and develop plans for future growth.
Thimble Programme Thimble is a unique business development programme, ideal for those thinking of setting up a fashion design business or for existing fashion designers looking to grow their business.
Upcoming programmes in 2009 - 2010
Environmental Product Development ProgrammeThis programme will recruit six small environmental businesses and support them to develop new environmental products.
Sales Growth Programme
The programme aims to improve the selling skills of business owners and mangers.
Case studies from past programmes
BITES case studiesSmallworld Music and Anderson Spratt both found ways to reduce waste and energy, while boosting profits.
HARTE Programme case study
Rachel Gordon took part in the Hospitality and Retail Training for Employment (HARTE) programme and was employed by Ramada Encore.
Strategy in Business Initiative case studyFrank Design found our Strategy in Business Initiative extremely useful as it has contributed to their business growth.
Collaborate Programme case studies
Find out about the experiences of two graduates who were placed with AMEY and Happening through the Collaborate Programme.
Retail Therapy Programme case studies
Crumbs!Cakes!, Dawson Wright Hardware, Equinox and Orchid Lingerie have all benefited from our Retail Therapy Programme.
Sales Growth Programme case studies
Artfrique and Flying Colours Image Consultancy both took part in our Sales Growth Programme.
Business events
We organise and run a series of events to help businesses.- Take a look at our latest business events
