Lagmore Youth Project in West Belfast, has benefitted from getting their young people involved in the Young Enterprise NI Access Enterprise programme, thanks to a £2,500 grant from the National Express Foundation.

The young people have been learning about business skills, whilst developing their own pizza business. As well as sessions learning about the practicalities of the world of business, they have had the opportunity to spend time with local business leaders, including David Maxwell, founder of Boojum and Board member of Young Enterprise NI, and Pete Boyle founder of Argento and Let’s Go Hydro.

Colin Fanning, Senior Programmes Manager at Lagmore Youth Project, said, “Thanks to the support of Young Enterprise, the young people at Lagmore Youth Project have seen a real potential in their business idea and had the most amazing time hearing from the range of VIPs that joined them as they shared their experience to date.”

Carol Fitzsimons MBE, CEO of Young Enterprise Northern Ireland, said, “Young Enterprise Northern Ireland is grateful to National Express Foundation for their support of the Young Enterprise project at Lagmore Youth Project. This funding has allowed the charity to work with the young people of the local area to develop workplace skills that set them apart as they enter the workforce.

Kate Reynolds, chair and trustee of National Express Foundation, said: “As a major public transport operator, we understand that it is our responsibility to support the communities that we serve. We recognise the challenges that many young people face finding the right opportunities for them, and we are proud to support initiatives like Lagmore Youth Project and the amazing work that they do.”

Through the Access Enterprise project, young people aged 13-18 are getting a better start as they move into the workforce. It may even inspire them to consider setting up their own business in future.”

National Express Foundation – Since its launch in 2012, the National Express Foundation has provided more than £1.5 million of funding to community organisations that work alongside young people, helping them to develop key skills and gain valuable life experiences.

Young Enterprise – is an enterprise, entrepreneurship and financial education charity, supporting 90,000 young people aged 5-25 annually to develop skills for success in work, including business start-up.

The Access Enterprise programme provides youth groups with the fundamentals of business, including:

• Market Research in the sector
• Sustainability and different business frameworks
• Training needed and necessary connections (environmental health, food and hygiene) to ensure the business operates legally.
• Investment opportunities, funders and other ways of raising capital.
• Framework of the business and how we can ensure the young people coming up all have an opportunity to take a role on when they reach the right age
• Marketing, Pricing (profit margins), delivery and USP

Lagmore Youth Project – At the heart of a community in West Belfast, a large white marquee is where most of the magic happens. The project was formed in 2020 to meet the ever-growing needs of the young people of Lagmore and Colin. Currently around 250 young people from age 11-18.