New diagnostics allow entrepreneurs to benchmark performance, strengthen resilience and unlock high-growth potential
Entrepreneurs and business owners across Northern Ireland can now access a powerful new suite of benchmarking and diagnostic tools designed to help them understand how their business compares to competitors and identify clear, practical pathways for growth.
Developed by Go Succeed, Northern Ireland’s free business and entrepreneur support service, the newly launched tools provide tailored insights across leadership capability, financial performance, resilience, productivity and long-term growth potential.
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The online diagnostics are designed to shine a spotlight on current business performance levels, helping entrepreneurs to prioritise actions for improvement and connect with the most relevant support available through Go Succeed.
Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Hedley Abernethy, representing Go Succeed said:
“We know that many entrepreneurs and business owners are so focused on day-to-day operations, that they rarely get the opportunity to step back and objectively assess how their business is really performing.
“These new benchmarking tools are designed to provide exactly that - practical, data-driven insights that help businesses understand where they stand, where the opportunities lie, and what actions will make the greatest difference.
“Importantly, this isn’t just about producing a report. It’s about starting a conversation. Once a business completes a diagnostic, our team can work with them to interpret the findings and connect them to the right mentoring, masterclasses, peer networks or funding support to help them move forward with confidence.”
The new benchmarking suite is now available in the members’ portal of the Go Succeed website to all those that have signed up to the service.
It includes an Entrepreneur Profile Tool, a Risk and Resilience Assessment Tool, and a comprehensive Business Model and High Growth Diagnostic. Together, they offer business owners the opportunity to step back from day-to-day operations and undertake a structured, evidence-based review of their business and leadership approach.
Go Succeed mentor Harry Jones added:
"Successful businesses don't stand still. They regularly review their performance, challenge assumptions and look for opportunities to improve.
"These new tools from Go Succeed give entrepreneurs an objective view of how their business is performing and where there is potential to grow. They turn what can often feel like instinct or guesswork into practical, evidence-based insights.
"For anyone serious about developing their business, completing a diagnostic is a worthwhile investment of time. It can provide a fresh perspective, uncover opportunities that might otherwise be missed, and help business owners make more informed decisions about their next steps."
The Entrepreneur Profile Tool is a self-assessment that helps business owners understand the type of entrepreneur they are today and the leader they aspire to become in the future. By identifying strengths and development areas, the tool supports personal leadership growth and encourages informed decision-making before seeking further advice or mentoring.
The Risk and Resilience Assessment Tool has been developed specifically to help small business owners evaluate how well their business can adapt, survive and grow in changing conditions. It generates a personalised report that benchmarks financial performance against more than 100,000 businesses while also examining productivity levels, operational efficiency, personal resilience traits and external risks that could impact performance.
The Business Model and High Growth Diagnostic provides a deeper evaluation of a company’s overall maturity and growth potential. It assesses performance across 11 core areas, including leadership, finance, customers, markets, innovation, sustainability and productivity.
The tools take between 10 minutes and one hour to complete, after which Go Succeed will follow up to discuss tailored support options aligned to the findings. Go Succeed (www.go-succeed.com) is funded by the UK Government and delivered by Northern Ireland’s 11 councils. The service supports entrepreneurs, new starts and existing businesses with easy-to-access advice and support - including mentoring, masterclasses, peer networks, access to grant funding and business planning - at every stage of their growth journey.
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