Write a comment
Students at Southern Regional College’s Newry and Armagh campuses have begun the second year of the Future Founders programme, which encourages young people to turn their ideas into business start-ups. Sports and Business students on both campuses are taking part, along with Science and Hairdressing students in Armagh. The programme follows a pilot last year in which 2,500 young people in Northern Ireland took part.
The students have taken their first steps towards becoming the norths next entrepreneurs. So far they have been introduced to entrepreneurship as part of a three-part workshop delivered by Young Enterprise NI.
Sam Walker, from Young Enterprise, explained that this first stage is about encouraging young people to think ahead about starting their own business, the skills that are needed to do that and how they would go about achieving that in today’s world.
In mid-November the students will take part in an innovation camp, where they will be challenged to think creatively and come up with ideas. The release notes that the simplest idea can often generate the most success.
The final stage will take place in January 2027, when students will meet local entrepreneurs and learn from their experiences. This will involve hearing about their innovative ideas, how they created their businesses, hints and tips on how to succeed and, more importantly, what pitfalls to avoid.
Organisers also point out that while students are being challenged to innovate now, the eureka moment may not have happened yet for everyone, and there is always the potential for it to come at another life stage.
Lynne Ervine, Technology Enhanced Learning and Project Based Learning Manager at SRC, said: “The Future Founders programme gives students the opportunity to think differently about opportunities, innovation and their own potential. For some, it may spark the ambition to start a business; for others, it may inspire new ways of thinking that they take into their future careers.
The programme demonstrates that entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking are not confined to specific subject areas or career pathways. The skills students develop, including creativity, problem-solving, resilience and initiative, are valuable across all sectors and professions.
As part of the wider Entrepreneurship Hub across the norths Further Education colleges, Future Founders helps learners connect with entrepreneurs, learn from real-world experiences and see how ideas can be developed into successful ventures. We are excited to see the impact the programme continues to have on our students and the opportunities it creates for their futures.”
The Future Founders programme is facilitated by Go Succeed. Funded by the UK Government and delivered by Northern Ireland’s eleven councils, Go Succeed supports entrepreneurs, new starts and existing businesses with advice and support at every stage of their growth journey.
