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Date: 20 November 2025
Over 300 young women taking part in the SistersIN programme have gathered at City Hall to celebrate female entrepreneurship at the Inspiring Entrepreneurs event, supported by Belfast City Council and Danske Bank.
The SistersIN programme enables, empowers and develops female pupils aged 16 and 17 from schools across Northern Ireland to become leaders of tomorrow. It encourages students to achieve their full potential and increase confidence by developing specialist skills essential in driving innovation, economic growth and social change.
The event featured insight from successful female leaders, who spoke about their own accomplishments and challenges, and provided advice to young women considering entrepreneurship as a potential career path.
Councillor Ian McLaughlin, chair of Belfast City Council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee, welcomed attendees and highlighted their interest and enthusiasm for forging their own business paths.
He said: “While Northern Ireland has seen the early-stage business set-up rate rise for women, there’s still a gap between men and women launching and scaling businesses and in accessing investment. That means that young women have a real opportunity to start something of their own and help shape an environment where female entrepreneurs aren’t the exception, but the norm.
“I’ve heard great ideas at this event which has assured me that innovation is very much alive and well with our young people, and the future is bright for female entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland.
“The Belfast Agenda – our city’s community plan - sets out the importance of encouraging and supporting young people to realise their potential, and to drive innovation and small business. I have no doubt that many of the pupils gathered here today will be strong business leaders in the years to come.”
Attendees heard from keynote speaker Alice Thompson, co-founder of Social Bite, who shared her remarkable journey of using business as a force for good, building international recognition, before switching to a different career.
Ashleigh Averell, Managing Director of iBrand, and Women in Business Young Businesswoman of the Year 2024, also spoke about the importance of building a supportive community and the impact it can have on a leadership journey.
Aisling Press, MD of Personal Banking at Danske Bank and SistersIN board member, said: “At Danske, we have an ambition to inspire and support the female leaders of tomorrow, not just within the bank, but across Northern Ireland.
“SistersIN has created a unique ecosystem in which schools, businesses and leaders have come together to help unlock the potential in all these future leaders.
“This Inspiring Entrepreneurs event has inspired the girls and helped to develop those essential leadership skills to ensure they can all thrive in tomorrow’s workplace and beyond, whether that be as a future leader within an organisation, or a leader of their own.”
For more information on support provided by Belfast City Council to small businesses and local entrepreneurs, visit belfastcity.gov.uk/businessinfo