Ballymena students connect with local entrepreneurs in Mid and East Antrim’s final Future Founders
Wednesday 10 December 2025
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council joined with Northern Ireland’s business and entrepreneur support service, Go Succeed, and Young Enterprise NI to inspire and empower the region’s next generation of business leaders through the innovative ‘Future Founders’ programme.
Go Succeed is a comprehensive support service funded by the UK Government and delivered by Northern Ireland’s 11 local councils.
It provides tailored advice, mentoring, and resources for individuals and businesses at every stage of their journey – from starting up to scaling and growing.
Through workshops, one-to-one guidance, and networking opportunities, Go Succeed helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into thriving enterprises, driving economic growth and innovation across the region.
Delivered in collaboration with all 11 local councils and Northern Ireland’s 6 further education colleges, the ‘Future Founders’ programme aims to embed entrepreneurial ambition and skills among young people: fostering creativity, innovation, and strengthening the talent pipeline for a dynamic economy.
The third and final session of the current programme in Mid and East Antrim recently took place at Northern Regional College in Ballymena.
This inspiring ‘Meet the Entrepreneur’ session gave students a unique opportunity to engage directly with local business leaders, gaining first-hand insights into their entrepreneurial journeys and learning what it takes to turn ideas into successful ventures.
The remaining sessions across other council areas will continue across Northern Ireland between January and March 2026.
Among the entrepreneurs who attended the Ballymena session were local entrepreneurs Darren Lyttle of Circle Creative Communications in Carrickfergus, Danielle Polkey of Eden Hair and Beauty in Ahoghill, and Karl Scullion of Museco in Portglenone.
The businesses involved generously contributed their time and expertise on a voluntary basis to support and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Their commitment highlights the strength of Northern Ireland’s business community and its dedication to nurturing future talent.
The ‘Future Founders’ programme has equipped young people with the tools, networks, and confidence to explore enterprise and innovation.
By connecting students with real-world role models, the initiative has sparked ambition and demonstrated that with the right mindset and support, ideas can become opportunities.
Participants across the further education sector have benefited enormously, gaining exposure to entrepreneurial thinking, developing new skills, and building invaluable industry connections.