Start Up Retail Programme Launches

New craft and food enterprises are being set up across the city with the help of a creative business programme, run by Belfast City Council.

Twenty people have taken part in the Start Up Retail programme, which is open to residents who wanted to develop the skills needed to set up their own retail businesses.

As well as receiving one-to-one mentoring and attending tailored workshops, the programme participants had the chance to take part in best practice visits to retail outlets in Belfast, Dublin and London.

Through Start Up Retail, they also received a bursary to develop their products and had the chance to test trade and sell their products at a pop-up shop called Handmade Belfast in the city last week.

A celebration ceremony took place in City Hall on Tuesday 10th March)for the businesses on the programme. Among these were retail and food companies which specialise in selling products from gourmet popcorn, jams, jewellery, up cycled bags, fairy doors, skin creams and art prints.

Presenting the participants with certificates, Councillor Deirdre Hargey, Chair of Belfast City Council’s Development Committee, said: "Start Up Retail is an innovative programme to stimulate and support those wishing to set up a retail business providing opportunities to develop products and fully test these.

"The retail sector is changing and new models and techniques are explored through the programme while also providing sound grounding for new entrepreneurs. I'm delighted to meet these new businesses and wish them every success with their new retail businesses."

(CD/MH)