Primary school mini traders face Dragons’ Den-style challenge
Friday 27 March 2026
Primary school pupils from across Mid and East Antrim have embraced their first taste of entrepreneurship, which included mini market trading and facing a Dragons’ Den-style panel.
Business Beginnings is a programme of enterprise exploration activities aimed at P6/P7 pupils to introduce them to the world of business. It is part of our Go Succeed NI programme and we worked with Young Enterprise NI to guide the pupils through the process of establishing and running their own student company.
On Thursday 19 March, the young entrepreneurs put their newly acquired skills to the test when they took part in trading at a special mini market set up in the Fairhill Centre in Ballymena.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, visited the traders to chat to them about their experiences running their stalls and about the products they had developed.
One week on, following a Dragons’ Den-style pitching event at the Braid, the Mayor also presented certificates and prizes to the winners.
The judges had a very difficult task, but eventually determined that the top award would go jointly to Clough Primary School and St Brigid’s Primary School.
“I am delighted to have welcomed the pupils from across our Borough to the Braid to celebrate all their achievements following the Business Beginnings programme,” Mayor Minford said.
“It was a pleasure to tour their mini market and see the creativity and planning that had gone into every aspect of each of their fledgling businesses.”
Carol Fitzsimons MBE, CEO of Young Enterprise NI, said: “The support of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has been vital in allowing more local young people to develop entrepreneurial skills.
“Linking with Go Succeed in the Council area allows the pupils to have a taste of business start-up and experience the world of business first-hand. We are grateful to the Council for providing them with this opportunity.”
Mayor Minford added: “Regardless of what career paths these young pupils may follow in the future, there are important transferable skills to be learned from seeing business in action – from planning and design to marketing, taking on responsibilities, working as a team, and much more.
“I wish them all every success in future – and who knows, they may be giving Lord Sugar a run for his money one day!”