City for start-ups

Do you have a business idea?

If you're in the process of starting or have recently started a business, social enterprise or co-operative and need guidance to develop your business strategy, our support programmes can help.

Our free, tailored business support includes:

• knowledge and insight from business experts
• workshops
• incentives

Assessing your needs

You can complete an online registration form (link opens in new window) and tell us about your business support needs. Our team will assess your information and contact you within three working days to outline support available to you. 

Business Start support

We offer support programmes including: 

• Go Succeed (link opens in new window)
• Social enterprise and co-operative support

Test your trade at St George’s Market

We’re offering Go Succeed programme participants an opportunity to test their trade at St George's Market. You will have the chance to test your product up to six times.

Find out more about Test Trading opportunities at St George’s Market

Activate Enterprise

If you are currently not working and have a business idea we can:

• help you by discussing your idea, and
• look at what steps you need to take to get started.

We can offer up to ten hours of support, including group workshops or one-to-one mentoring sessions.

We can help with:

• exploring your business idea
• increasing your motivation and confidence
• making plans to get started, and
• making connections with other support available.

Eligibility criteria

The Activate Enterprise support is available for:  

• people who are not working and have not sought work in the last four weeks, and
• people who are not working and are not able to start work within the next two weeks.

To register your interest for support, complete the Go Succeed registration form (link opens in new window).

When you complete the registration form, please select ‘I’m thinking about starting my own business and would like some help’ as your answer to the ‘How can we help?’ question.

To discuss Activate Enterprise support you can contact Stephen at GEMS Northern Ireland by emailing [email protected] or calling 02890 332 313.

Go Succeed represents a significant investment in local entrepreneurs and businesses, funded by the UK Government. 

Rebel Business School

Rebel on Demand will give you the information, inspiration and practical help you need to get your business idea up and running. They’ve collected videos, podcasts, blogs and information from their live events to give you a service you can enjoy free every day at any time. 

To register and use these resources, go to Rebel on Demand - Rebel Business School (link opens in a new window). 

Spare Room to Stellar

Spare Room to Stellar shares the stories and lessons of three businesses that started in spare rooms in Belfast and now compete on a global scale. The businesses are Blk Box, BPerfect Cosmetics and Suki Tea.

Inspired by these three films, existing and ‘would be’ entrepreneurs can book a free consultation where you’ll be signposted to the most relevant sources of support for your idea or early stage business, including:

• development programmes
• premises
• networks
• funding or other springboards and incentives

• View Spare Room to Stellar (link opens in a new window)

Business case study

No matter how big or small your idea is, Belfast City Council can help turn your idea into a successful business. See how our support was instrumental in helping Stacey Quinn set up her business ‘Sports 4 Autism’.