Go Succeed, Northern Ireland's enterprise support service, has again partnered with Young Enterprise NI to encourage young people across the region to explore entrepreneurship through the 'Future Founders' programme.

Run in collaboration with all 11 local councils and the region's six further education colleges, the initiative launched in September 2025 and, in its first year, reached more than 2,500 participants.

Future Founders is designed to help young people take their first steps in business by building confidence, developing practical skills and nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset so they can turn ideas into opportunities and become tomorrow's business leaders.

The programme features three core stages: an introduction to entrepreneurship, an Innovation Camp and an Entrepreneurship Hub. Through these sessions, students examine what it means to be an entrepreneur, shape their own ideas, collaborate to solve real-world challenges and gain hands-on insight into starting and running a business.

In year one, students also heard first-hand from entrepreneurs and business leaders, who shared their start-up journeys, the hurdles they faced and the lessons learned.

Alderman Thomas Gordon, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, which is leading the programme on behalf of Go Succeed, said: "We are delighted to see Future Founders return for a second year following the fantastic response to the programme in its first year.

"The feedback we received from both students and educators was excellent and demonstrated just how much potential there is among young people across our communities. "We know there are many young people with brilliant ideas and entrepreneurial ambition, but they may not always have the confidence, knowledge or support to know where to start. Programmes like Future Founders play an important role in giving young people those first opportunities to explore their potential, develop practical skills and see entrepreneurship as a realistic and exciting career path.

"We look forward to welcoming even more young people to the programme this year and seeing the ideas, creativity and ambition they bring with them."

Carol Fitzsimons MBE, Chief Executive of Young Enterprise NI, said: "We are thrilled to be continuing our partnership with Go Succeed and the 11 councils to deliver Future Founders for a second year.

"The response to the programme in its first year was incredibly encouraging, with more than 2,500 young people given the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship and develop the skills needed to bring their ideas to life.

"Young people have huge potential to shape the future of Northern Ireland's economy, and we want to ensure they have the confidence, skills and support to realise that potential. Future Founders provides a practical and engaging introduction to entrepreneurship and, importantly, shows young people that they don't have to wait until they leave education to start thinking like an entrepreneur.

"We are excited to build on the success of the first year and reach even more young people through the programme."

Joanne McCourt, Principal Lecturer and Entrepreneurship Hub Manager for the Further Education Sector at Northern Regional College, added: "Future Founders gives students the opportunity to step outside the traditional classroom environment and explore their creativity, problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial potential.

"The enthusiasm and creativity we saw from students during the first year was fantastic, and we are looking forward to welcoming a new cohort and supporting them as they explore their own entrepreneurial journeys."

This year's programme will run on campuses across all six further education colleges in Northern Ireland: Belfast Metropolitan College, North West Regional College, Northern Regional College, South Eastern Regional College, South West College and Southern Regional College.