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New NI Enterprise Support Service launched during Global Entrepreneurship Week

Date: 13 Nov 2023


Philip Lloyd and Chris Moore from Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities with John Walsh, Chief Executive, Belfast City Council and Cllr Cliodhna Nic Bhranair at Go Succeed launch.

A major new Enterprise Support Service - ‘Go Succeed’ – was officially revealed today, kickstarting this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Funded by the UK Government and powered by the government’s Levelling Up Fund, Go Succeed represents a multi-million pound investment in local entrepreneurs and businesses.

It will provide a holistic approach to government support services with a greater focus on providing a tailored service to suit individual needs in a bid to foster enterprise across the region.

Promising to support entrepreneurs, new starts and existing businesses across Northern Ireland, Go Succeed offers easy-to-access advice and support at every stage of their growth journey. 

Led by Northern Ireland’s 11 local councils, the service will deliver flexible support to service users, including mentoring, masterclasses, peer networks, access to grant funding and a business plan.

Speaking on behalf of all 11 councils delivering the new service, John Walsh, Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, said: “The Department for the Economy’s ‘10X Economy’ – an economic vision for a decade of innovation - outlines how SMEs can play a vital role in developing the success of NI as a competitive economy.

“Go Succeed directly supports this goal – targeting potential entrepreneurs, new starts and existing small businesses and providing them with flexible, tailored and easily accessible advice and support at all stages of their journey to help them grow and, in turn, create new jobs and opportunities for residents.

“By working together across all our council areas, we hope to embed Northern Ireland’s position as an innovative and growing hub for business and as a great place to live, visit, work, study and invest.”

The new service has been informed by research undertaken by a range of expertise in the field of enterprise development who provided solutions on the types of interventions that might be required to ‘move the dial’ for the Northern Ireland local economy relating to levels of business start-ups, productivity, access to innovation and levels of export.

These recommendations provided the foundation for the new service, Go Succeed.

Dr Pragya Sharma, a medical biochemist and founder of and director of Gran Lab, who took part in a panel discussion at the launch event, said: “I am honoured to play a part in the launch of Go Succeed. It will without doubt offer every interested business the key to success. No matter what stage you are at - whether you are an entrepreneur with a business idea, or you’re a start-up, or have an established business you’d like to grow – Go Succeed can help. It is a very exciting time for the business community of Northern Ireland.”

Gran Lab specialises in making steroid-free, colour-inclusive formulations to treat the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema.

From Tuesday 14 November, a series of regional information workshops will be held in each council area, as below:

Council Date and time Location
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Monday 27 November, 12pm to 1pm Craigavon Civic Centre
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Thursday 16 November, 10:30am to 12pm Bann Gallery, Civic Headquarters, Coleraine
Derry City and Strabane District Council Thursday 30 November, 10am to 12pm The Playhouse
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Thursday 30 November, 9am to 11am Strule Arts Centre, Omagh
Lisburn Castlereagh Council Tuesday 28 November Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Friday 17 November, 10:30am to 1pm Hillmount House, Larne
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Tuesday 14 November, 5:30pm to 7pm      Killeavy Caste Estate

For more information about the Go Succeed programme, visit www.go-succeed.com

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