24/06/2015

Council Funds Belfast Enterprise Academy

A number of students attending university and college in Belfast are setting up their own enterprises while studying, after the council funded a business support programme.

The students who attend Ulster University, Belfast Metropolitan College and Queen's University took part in the Belfast Enterprise Academy (BEA) which offers support on setting up enterprises and developing business ideas.

As well as participating in workshops and receiving one-to-one mentoring to explore and develop a business idea or product, the students had the chance to meet with a number of current successful business owners and learn from their experiences.

A celebration ceremony took place in City Hall recently for the 24 young people who were also presented with certificates for completion of the programme by Councillor Deirdre Hargey, Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee.

Councillor Hargey, said: "This is the sixth intake of students on the Belfast Enterprise Academy and this innovative pre-enterprise programme continues to go from strength to strength.

"Since the BEA began, 24 full-time businesses have been set up and 12 part-time with 47 jobs created.

"The programme encourages students to consider self-employment and develop business ideas and also emphasises the importance of entrepreneurship as a driver for our local economy."

(CD/MH)

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