Future Looks Bright for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

SERC students across a range of courses are benefitting from the Future Founders Programme, established to inspire ambition and entrepreneurship across Northern Ireland’s FE colleges. The programme is delivered by Young Enterprise NI in partnership with local councils through the Go Succeed Business Support Programme.  

Future Founders was launched at SERC Lisburn Campus on Tuesday 9 September, where more than 70 students from Business, Sport, Beauty, Hospitality and Applied Science courses took part in ideation sessions and team activities.  

Councillor Claire Kemp, Chair of the Regeneration and Growth Committee at Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, welcomed participants and said,  

 “I am delighted to launch the Go Succeed Future Founders at SERC. It is an exciting opportunity to inspire and support our future entrepreneurs and business owners.   

"Through a variety of opportunities, students of all ages and backgrounds will gain confidence in their ability to meet the current and emerging skills needs of the local economy.”  

Alongside the events and activities at SERC Lisburn Campus, the programme is also running at SERC’s Bangor Campus.   

The Future Founders programme will continue with a full-day innovation camp in November, during Global Entrepreneurship Week. It will conclude with the students having the opportunity to gain personal insights through interviewing a local entrepreneur.  

Catherine Shipman, Head of Engagement at SERC commented: “At SERC, we are committed to equipping our students with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in their future careers. Future Founders gives them the opportunity to explore their creativity, work together on real-world challenges, and be inspired by local entrepreneurs.”  

Future Founders is part of a wider initiative delivered across all 11 council areas and all six colleges in Northern Ireland, aimed at building a strong pipeline of entrepreneurial talent.  

Go Succeed (www.go-succeed.com) is funded by the UK Government and delivered by local government in Northern Ireland. The service supports entrepreneurs, new starts and existing businesses with easy-to-access advice and support – including mentoring, masterclasses, peer networks, access to grant funding and business planning – at every stage of their growth journey.   

In the picture, top:    Opening the Future Founders programme at SERC Lisburn Campus (l-r) Kenzie Pickering  studying the Level 3 National Diploma in Sport, Fitness and Personal Training;   Councillor Claire Kemp, Chair Regeneration and Growth Committee Lisburn Castlereagh City Council; Rebekah White, Area Manager South East, Young Enterprise;  Justin Herbert, Level 3 National Diploma in Sport, Fitness and Personal Training; Charlotte Mulligan and Nokutenda Gwande, Level 2 Traineeship in Beauty Therapy. 

Inset picture: (L- R) Megan Rollins, Innovation Advisor SERC; Level 2 Traineeship in Information Technology students, Max Lovegrove, Thomas McVeigh- Reynolds, Ben Adair, and Kenzie Stevenson; and Rebekah White, Pearce McFall and Rachael Armstrong from Young Enterprise NI, at the Future Founders workshop at SERC Bangor Campus.