Northern Ireland’s enterprise support service Go Succeed and Young Enterprise NI are teaming up for a second year to inspire young people across the region to explore entrepreneurship through their ‘Future Founders’ programme.
Delivered in partnership with all 11 councils across Northern Ireland and the region’s six further education colleges, the Future Founders programme launched in September 2025 and reached more than 2,500 young people during its first year.
The programme is designed to encourage young people to take their first steps into entrepreneurship, building the confidence, skills and mindset they need to turn their ideas into opportunities and become part of the next generation of business leaders.
Future Founders is delivered through three key stages: an introduction to entrepreneurship, an Innovation Camp and an Entrepreneurship Hub. Through these sessions, participants are given the opportunity to explore what it means to be an entrepreneur, develop their own ideas, work collaboratively to solve challenges and gain practical insight into starting and running a business.
Go Succeed
During its first year, students heard directly from entrepreneurs and business leaders, who shared their own experiences of starting and growing a business, the challenges they faced and the lessons they learned along the way.
Mayor, Alderman Thomas Gordon 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.”
Future Founders will take place 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.
