Future Founders returns as 2,500 young people get taste of entrepreneurship

Pictured launching the second year of the initiative at Northern Regional College, Ballymena, from left: Jane Hanna, North East Area Manager of Young Enterprise NI; Joanne McCourt, Northern Regional College; Christine Barnhill, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council; Alderman Thomas Gordon of Mid and East Antrim; Christine Brown, Northern Regional College; Carol Fitzsimons MBE, Chief Executive of Young Enterprise NI.

A programme designed to give young people the confidence and practical skills to turn their ideas into businesses is returning for a second year after reaching more than 2,500 participants across Northern Ireland.

Future Founders brings together Northern Ireland’s council-backed Go Succeed service and Young Enterprise NI, with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council leading the initiative on behalf of Go Succeed.

The programme will again be delivered across all six further education colleges, including Northern Regional College, giving students an opportunity to explore entrepreneurship beyond the traditional classroom.

From ideas to real-world business skills

Launched in September 2025, Future Founders takes participants through three stages — an introduction to entrepreneurship, an Innovation Camp and an Entrepreneurship Hub.

Young people explore what it means to become an entrepreneur, develop their own ideas, work together to solve challenges and gain practical insight into starting and running a business.

Participants also hear directly from entrepreneurs and business leaders about their experiences of building businesses, including the challenges they encountered and lessons learned along the way.

Organisers say the aim is not simply to encourage young people to start businesses immediately, but to develop confidence, creativity, problem-solving ability and an entrepreneurial mindset that can help them identify and pursue opportunities.

Launching the second year of the initiative at Northern Regional College, Ballymena, from left: Joanne McCourt, Northern Regional College; Jane Hanna, North East Area Manager of Young Enterprise NI; Christine Barnhill, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council; Alderman Thomas Gordon of Mid and East Antrim; Carol Fitzsimons MBE, Chief Executive of Young Enterprise NI; Christine Brown, Northern Regional College.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, said the response from students and educators during the programme’s first year demonstrated the potential among young people across local communities.

He 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.”

Building confidence among the next generation

Young Enterprise NI Chief Executive Carol Fitzsimons MBE said more than 2,500 young people had been given an opportunity to explore entrepreneurship during the initiative’s inaugural year.

She said:

“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.”

Northern Regional College will again be among the campuses hosting Future Founders.

Joanne McCourt, Principal Lecturer and Entrepreneurship Hub Manager for the Further Education Sector at Northern Regional College, said the initiative gives students a different environment in which to discover their abilities.

She said:

“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.”

Programme reaches colleges across Northern Ireland

Future Founders will be delivered across Belfast Metropolitan College, North West Regional College, Northern Regional College, South Eastern Regional College, South West College and Southern Regional College.

With all 11 councils involved alongside Northern Ireland’s further education sector, the second year will seek to build on the 2,500-plus young people reached during 2025/26 — giving another cohort the opportunity to test ideas, develop practical skills and consider entrepreneurship as a possible route for their future.