Belfast Enterprise Academy Gives Students Support To Become Entrepreneurs

The 'Belfast Enterprise Academy' is giving third level students invaluable support to become successful entrepreneurs.

Belfast City Council's award winning programme provides free support to degree level students who want to develop and launch their own business.

Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee, Councillor David Brooks, explained: "Our Belfast Enterprise Academy gives students real world guidance, advice and support as they generate, test and refine their business ideas. As well as learning from peers who have already successfully started their own business, with our help, they meet experts and established entrepreneurs who can help turn their visions into a reality. We also help them to access the financial support they need to become their own boss. In these incredibly challenging times for young people and for business, it's heartening to know that our support is making a real difference."

One of the BEA's most recent graduates, Naomi McGregor, is testament to the Academy’s winning formula, having just clinched the top award in the Catalyst Invest Enterprise Software Category for her company Movetru, which provides specialist sports software that pairs with an athlete’s device to provide personalised information to enhance performance, prevent injury and aid rehabilitation.

Speaking of how instrumental BEA has been to her success to date, Naomi said: "Belfast Enterprise Academy has given me the confidence, the connections and the resources to take Movetru forward, straight out of university, and the incredible mentoring helped me to deal with stressful decision making. I'm beyond thankful to the BEA for inspiring me, pushing me forward, giving me the tools I needed to make my business a success, and acting as my personal business cheerleader.

"With BEA's help, I've secured a Techstart Proof of Concept £10,000 grant, participated in the Invest NI From Student to First Sale and I've already won the Catalyst Invest Enterprise Software category. It’s like a dream come true."