Budding Entrepreneurs in Mid and East Antrim find out how to ‘Go Succeed’ in business
Wednesday 9 July 2025
Budding entrepreneurs in Mid and East Antrim have been inspired to take their business idea to the next level through a series of workshops and tours as part of a local Tourism Academy.
Event forms part of the Go Succeed, Northern Ireland’s free enterprise support service
Hosted by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, the academy was delivered by Carrickfergus Enterprise as part of the Go Succeed business support service, led by Northern Ireland’s 11 local councils and funded by the UK Government.
The event was specially designed to appeal to those in the Mid and East Antrim area who wanted to develop skills and knowledge to gain employment or self-employment within the tourism sector.
Over a three-month period, participants attended over 10 diverse training sessions, combining industry-specific qualifications with hands-on practical experience.
Training highlights included World Host Principles of Customer Service accreditation, emergency first aid, food safety, and an introduction to Ulster Scots. More focused training was offered through a Taste of Tourism Day and a Story Telling masterclass with renowned storyteller Liz Weir, MBE. 50% of participants gained three separate certifications, with 25% earning five or more industry recognised qualifications or certifications.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, comments: “I am delighted to see participants were inspired and empowered through the initiatives of our local Tourism Academy. The programme provided invaluable insights and experience, encouraging many to transform and develop their innovative ideas. The programme not only fosters economic growth but also highlights Council’s commitment to nurturing talent and supporting local enterprise. Together, we are building a brighter, more prosperous future for all residents.”
“The Tourism Academy has been transformational to our participants with many lacking confidence and direction at the start and with the right support and encouragement they have moved to self-employment or new employment after completion of the training” said Kelli McRoberts, CEO of Carrick Enterprise. This cohort proved the value of co-creating training from the ground up, tailored to the local market and shaped around the participants’ goals. The level of growth, confidence and connection that emerged from this series is truly inspiring.”
Attendees benefited from hearing from industry role models with speakers including Yvonne McIlree, General Manager of Whitehead Railway Museum and Go Succeed graduate Lucinda Graham, owner of Galgorm Melts. Both provided a unique insight to commercialisation within the industry underpinned by their love for promoting Northern Ireland to visitors through the service or products they provide.
Graduate Elizabeth Skillen credited Go Succeed for giving her the confidence and direction she needed to start her career in the Tourism Sector. Speaking about her upskilling experience she said ‘I learned so much about the different aspects of the tourism industry as well as attaining qualifications in practical skills in first aid and food safety. The course gave me the confidence to enrol in a level 3 Tour Guiding course and to consider going self-employed as a tour guide. I will explore this further with the help of the Go Succeed series.”
Fellow Graduate Susan Nicholson who had a background as a nutritionist joined the academy to help her bring her accommodation business to market. She is working alongside her husband to create a number of self-catering properties in Cairncastle, the first of which is a converted stone outbuilding.
Speaking about increasing her knowledge of starting and growing a business she said ‘I had limited knowledge about setting up an accommodation business before commencing the academy. Through the knowledge and expertise of speakers, established tourism providers and Carrickfergus Enterprise I have learned about commercialisation opportunities and product bundling, something I was not aware of beforehand. I now have a real understanding of accommodation rates and adding value that will allow me to increase my sales potential and business viability. My confidence has greatly improved too’.
Launched November 2023, Go Succeed represents a multi-million-pound investment in local entrepreneurs and businesses. It provides a holistic approach to government support services with a focus on providing a tailored service to suit individual needs in a bid to foster enterprise across the region.
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 a business plan, at every stage of their growth journey.
For more information about the service or to see a list of future events, visit the Go Succeed NI website.