Winner of the local heat will progress to Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch Final
Ten entrepreneurs from across the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area will battle it out to secure ‘The Ultimate Pitch’ on 22nd October at Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn.
These shortlisted individuals will prepare to win a £1,000 investment for their business idea to this local heat from the government-backed enterprise support service Go Succeed.
The winner of this local heat will progress to the regional final in November where they’ll be in with the chance to capture another £5,000 for the overall winner.
Finalists in Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council include Paul McCaw of Lewcose which supplies smart lights that show diabetics their blood sugar levels; Andrea Lucas of Hillsborough Garden Sauna; Paula Clarke from Teal Visual which provides sign languages service; and Ben Brackenridge, owner of Outset Fitness.
Others include Elaine Dobson of Aurora Wellness & Beauty; Robert Herdman from corporate training company Next Level Thinking; and Joanne Lynch of YourWellFit which offers employee wellness programmes.
They are joined by Katie Willoughby from ProTech which provides soft skills workshops for tech professionals; Franklin Atamewan who has an idea for a care provider that combines compassion, transparency, community reinvestment, and smart technology; and Timothy Turner, who runs social prescription service The Garden Friend.
Cllr Claire Kemp, Chair Regeneration & Growth Committee of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, said: “Many congratulations to all those that have made our local heat of Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch. The incredible number of entries from across the Lisburn and Castlereagh area illustrates the depth of entrepreneurial talent locally and shows just what an achievement it is to have been shortlisted.
“We wish the very best of luck to all finalists, and to all those entrepreneurs that took the time to enter. The future of our local economy is obviously in very safe hands.”
Heat winners from each of Northern Ireland’s 11 councils will progress to The Ultimate Pitch regional final in Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy, Co. Derry on 19th November.
The overall winner at the regional final will receive the Go Succeed Ultimate Pitch Award, £5,000 investment, and a prize package including a photography session supplied by Brian Thompson Photography, podcast recording session supplied by Attention X Studio NI, membership of Toastmasters, and a media training session supplied by LK Communications.
Winners of sub-categories at the regional final, which include the Go Succeed Impact Award for the best social enterprise, the Go Succeed Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award, and the Go Succeed Rising Star Award for the most inspiring 16 to 25-year-old entrepreneur, will also receive £1,500 towards their business idea.
Meanwhile, members of the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite regional finalist to win the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Ardmore Group, with the winner also receiving a £1,500 cash prize.
Go Succeed (www.go-succeed.com) is funded by the UK Government and delivered by Northern Ireland’s 11 councils.
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 business planning – at every stage of their growth journey.