A MAJOR new enterprise support service for Northern Ireland called ‘Go Succeed’ has been officially launched to coincide with this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Funded by the UK Government and powered by the its Levelling Up Fund, Go Succeed represents a £17 million 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 the north, Go Succeed offers easy-to-access advice and support at every stage of their growth journey.
Led by the region’s 11 local councils, the service will deliver flexible support to service users, including mentoring, master-classes, peer networks, access to grant funding and a business plan.
John Walsh, chief executive of Belfast City Council, speaking on behalf of all the north's councils, 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 Northern Ireland 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 enterprise development, whose recommendations provided the foundation for Go Succeed.
Dr Pragya Sharma, a medical biochemist and founder of and director of Gran Lab, which specialises in making steroid-free, colour-inclusive formulations to treat the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema, told the launch event: “Go Succeed will 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.”
A series of regional information workshops will be held in each Council area. Upcoming events (full details at www.go-succeed.com) include:
:: Thursday November 16 (10.30am to noon) Bann Gallery in Coleraine (Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council)
:: Friday November 17 (10.30am-1pm) - Hillmount House in Larne (Mid and East Antrim Borough Council)
:: Monday November 27 (noon-1pm) - Craigavon Civic Centre (Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council)
:: Tuesday November 28 - Lagan Valley Island Lisburn (Lisburn Castlereagh Council)
:: Thursday November 30 (10am-noon) - The Playhouse in Derry (Derry City and Strabane District Council)
:: Thursday November 30 (9am-11am) - Strule Arts Centre in Omagh (Fermanagh and Omagh District Council)
