New Business Development Programme Launched

Belfast City Council and the University of Ulster has launched a new business development programme to help participants take their ideas 'from mind to marketplace'.

Aimed at new start and early stage businesses in the creative industries, the '140 Second Club' will offer 30 participants from the Belfast City Council area the chance to work with industry experts in a specially tailored programme of masterclasses and workshops.

During the two phases of the programme, talented young participants from film, television, digital media, music and design will learn to develop their creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship and to maximise the commercial potential of their business ideas. 

Speaking about the need for the new programme, Councillor Deirdre Hargey, Chair of the Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee, said: "The creative industries sector in Belfast, and beyond, is bursting with talent and fresh ideas. However it is widely known that the main development barrier for new start and early stage businesses is that they fail to understand the process by which to take a product to market. 

"The 140 Second Club will address this knowledge gap and help up and coming businesses to commercialise their creative intellectual property, thereby contributing to the further development of the sector here."

Membership of the 140 Second Club is open to just 30 creative industry start-ups within the Belfast City Council area. To apply for the programme, email 140secondclub@ulster.ac.uk, and complete a simple registration form before the deadline of Monday 30 November.