The City of Lisburn is the birthplace of many great entrepreneurs including Professor Frank Pantridge who transformed emergency medicine and paramedic services with the invention of the portable defibrillator and Harry Ferguson, engineer and inventor noted for his role in the development of the modern agricultural tractor, for becoming the first Irishman to build and fly his own aeroplane, and for developing the first four-wheel drive Formula One car. More recent examples of local entrepreneurial prominence include the restauranter Michael Deane and the computer game developer David Perry.

As well as producing many great entrepreneurs, the City of Lisburn has amongst the highest proportion of graduate residents in N.Ireland, almost 18% compared to the N.Ireland average of 15.5%, and increasing to 19% in rural areas. As recent research has indicated that a key determinant of future local economic growth will be the level of graduates living and working in the area, Lisburn City Council is keen to build upon local graduate success by encouraging as many as possible to proceed to self employment. To this end, the Council and its delivery partner Lisburn Enterprise Organisation have developed the Graduate Into Business Programme.

This new initiative aims to not only work to increase the number of new start up graduate businesses in the City, but will also work with graduates who are running existing businesses to help them grow.

The programme will address key barriers to graduate entrepreneurship such as lack of confidence, lack of business skills and knowledge, financial uncertainty and in some instances, working with graduates who have a desire to run their own business but have no solid business idea.  This will be achieved through a bespoke package of assistance, which includes mentoring, training, networking, business planning, and the opportunity to participate in a number of challenging business events.

This dedicated programme website has been developed as an integral part of the project. I hope you find the website to be a useful resource, packed with information especially relevant for graduate entrepreneurs including case studies, business advice and the latest news and events. I would like to wish you every success on the programme and in all your future business ventures.

Councillor Jenny Palmer
Chair of the Economic Development Committee
Lisburn City Council