Free enterprise support service contributed to one-in-every-10 new start-ups in Northern Ireland
Around 2,500 new businesses creating over 3,500 jobs have taken off in Northern Ireland over the last two years thanks to the region’s free business support service, Go Succeed, underscoring the strength of entrepreneurship in the region and the need for region-wide support.
The official figures were revealed by Go Succeed, which is funded by the UK Government and all 11 local councils, at a special event in Parliament Buildings to mark Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Since it was launched in November 2023, a total of 2,477 new enterprises have been established, with 3,560 new jobs created as a direct result of support services provide by Go Succeed.
The new data outlining the impact of Go Succeed shows that the service directly contributed to the creation of one-in-every-10 of all new Northern Ireland start-ups in just 24 months as part of its mission to encourage entrepreneurship and support established businesses to become more competitive, innovative and resilient
Go Succeed, which is delivered through all councils in Northern Ireland, provides a range of services to entrepreneurs and businesses at every stage of their journey.
It has also awarded 2,051 grants, worth more than £6.3 million, enabling entrepreneurs and businesses to scale their operations and invest in new technology and equipment to drive efficiencies and growth.
Meanwhile, 960 masterclasses have been delivered to upskill entrepreneurs across every council area in Northern Ireland which is in addition to almost 113,300 hours of free one-to-one mentorship provided to a wide range of local businesses.
Speaking at the Global Entrepreneurship Week event at Stormont, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said the impacts highlight the critical importance of the service in supporting the future economic growth and prosperity of the region.
Go Succeed was specifically developed to provide an integrated approach to council-led enterprise and business support services while also focusing on supporting entrepreneurs and businesses across the region with tailored advice that meets their specific needs.
As part of their statutory responsibility for business start-up, local councils play a key leadership role in the delivery of Go Succeed, continually improving and adapting the service to the changing needs of entrepreneurs and businesses.
Earlier this year, the UK government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund announced a renewal of funding for Go Succeed until the end of March 2026.
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “Go Succeed has had an incredibly significant impact across the north.
“The service has provided entrepreneurs and small businesses with tailored support and expert guidance, helping thousands of people to turn ideas into viable enterprises.
“Given the importance of Go Succeed it is critical that the British Government continues to fund the service through its Local Growth Fund.”
Marie Ward, Chief Executive of Newry, Mourne, and Down District Council, speaking on behalf of Go Succeed, added: “Go Succeed has brought together all council authorities, alongside our delivery partners and the wider business and entrepreneurial ecosystem in an incredible collaborative effort to drive business growth in this region.
“Supporting the goals of Northern Ireland Executive and the Department for the Economy, Go Succeed brings together the expertise and local knowledge needed to drive innovation, job creation and improve regional balance.
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“The success of Go Succeed is evident in both numbers and stories - a growing network of entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups who are strengthening Northern Ireland’s economy from the ground up, the ongoing critical need for this type of support service.”
Go Succeed (www.go-succeed.com) supports entrepreneurs, start-ups, and existing businesses with easy-to-access advice and support, including extensive masterclasses, mentorship, peer networks, access to grant funding, and business planning at every stage of their growth journey.
Participants also have exclusive access to the Go Succeed Members Area, which provides business templates, bitesize tutorials, and more. They can also access a newly developed Business Benchmarking tool, designed to help them gain insights into similar businesses and reflect before seeking further advice and support.
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