Young entrepreneurs gear up for annual challenge

Northern Ireland’s leading business education charity, Young Enterprise NI and Ulster Bank are working together to prepare young people for business as they launch the 2014 QuickStart programme.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Jan 2014, 14:36 BST
Sinead McNicholl, Young Enterprise NI and Rhonda McClelland, Ulster Bank with Jenny Calvin and Valerie McGregor, Limavady High School launching QuickStart at Limavady High School as Year 11 students prepare to take part in QuickStart in 2014. Photo: Michael LoveSinead McNicholl, Young Enterprise NI and Rhonda McClelland, Ulster Bank with Jenny Calvin and Valerie McGregor, Limavady High School launching QuickStart at Limavady High School as Year 11 students prepare to take part in QuickStart in 2014. Photo: Michael Love
Sinead McNicholl, Young Enterprise NI and Rhonda McClelland, Ulster Bank with Jenny Calvin and Valerie McGregor, Limavady High School launching QuickStart at Limavady High School as Year 11 students prepare to take part in QuickStart in 2014. Photo: Michael Love

Last year, more than 1000 young people across all areas of Northern Ireland took part in the programme. Delivered in schools, students aged 14-16 are challenged to start a business over a period of 12 weeks with the support of a volunteer business adviser. The hands-on approach to business education provided by Young Enterprise NI gives young people real experience of the challenges and rewards of running a business.

Students taking part in the programme are now being invited to apply for the annual QuickStart competition to be held in May. Taking place at Ulster Bank’s Headquarters in Belfast, student businesses are invited to present their business plans to a panel of judges from the business community. The judges will crown the QuickStart Company of the Year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ulster Bank is principal supporter of QuickStart, ensuring the success of the programme through ongoing funding and the support of volunteer business advisers from branches and business centres across Northern Ireland.

Commenting on the programme, Ian Jordan, Director, Corporate Banking Division, Ulster Bank, said: “We are delighted to support Young Enterprise NI through our Community Impact Fund. This is an important programme which gives young people their first taste of enterprise and business, at a time when they are making vital career choices.”

QuickStart is one of a range of business education programmes offered by Young Enterprise NI. The charity’s Chief Executive, Carol Fitzsimons, commented: “At Young Enterprise NI, we work with local business volunteers to prepare more than 100,000 young people aged 5-25 each year to be the entrepreneurial business owners and ‘intrapreneurial’ employees of the future.”For more information on entering the QuickStart competition contact Young Enterprise NI on 028 9032 7003 or by get in touch their local Young Enterprise NI Development Manager by visiting www.yeni.co.uk.

Young Enterprise NI is a charity, part funded by the Department of Education. For more information on fundraising or volunteering opportunities please visit www.yeni.co.uk.

Related topics:Ulster BankNorthern IrelandStudents