Go Succeed

Say Hello to Go Succeed  

Go Succeed is the go-to source for expert business advice led by Northern Ireland's eleven local councils. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur just starting out; are looking to grow your business; or are planning to scale up; our team of industry experts will provide tailored support and guidance to help you achieve your business goals.

For more information or to register interest please visit https://go-succeed.com/

	How Go Succeed Can Help You
	Starting your business You have a great idea but you're not sure how to turn it into a business, or you have already started out in business and require mentorship on your next steps. Our Go Succeed Start experts will help you to create a business plan, seek funding and put all the foundations in place to get your business up and running.
	Growing your business  Your business is already established and is now ready to expand, but growth is slow and you're not sure how to progress. Our Go Succeed Grow experts have seen it all before in just about every sector, so they'll provide tailored support to help shorten the journey to business growth.
	Scaling your business  Your business is ready to go to the next level locally and internationally but you need guidance, support or resources to achieve your ambitions. Our Go Succeed Scale industry experts will help tailor your plans to penetrate new markets, identify investment opportunities and scale up your operations.

Go Succeed Grants - Call 2 - NOW CLOSED

Apply now for a Go Succeed grant to support your business growth

If you’ve previously received support or are currently going through the Go Succeed service, you may be eligible to apply for a grant of between £1,000 and £3,000 to help take your business to the next level.

Delivered through Ards and North Down Borough Council, Go Succeed grants can fund up to 50% of eligible capital costs.

Examples of what the grant can support include:

• Specialist equipment or machinery to improve efficiency
• Digital tools, such as computers or business software
• Website development or e-commerce functionality
• Be actively trading within your council area.
• Have completed at least 60% of your mentoring support through Go Succeed.
• Have identified a barrier to growth the grant can help address.
• Be an enterprise or social enterprise with fewer than 50 full-time employees.

Important info:

• Applications closed on Wednesday 5th November 2025 at 12 noon.
• Use Call 2 application form ONLY, any previous versions will not be accepted.
• Grants will be awarded through a competitive process.
• You must not start your project until a formal Letter of Offer is received, signed, dated, and returned within 14 days to the council.
• All grants are paid retrospectively, after satisfactory project completion and verification.
• You must declare if you have applied to any other grant funding scheme that is open at the same time as or overlapping with Go Succeed Grants Call 2 , eg Rural Business Grant Scheme.

To find out more please visit, go-succeed.com/grants or contact: gosucceedgrants@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Getting Started In Business Programme

A free Programme helping people explore self-employment, learn practical business skills, and access one-to-one mentoring and funding support.

From turning your side hustle into self employment or simply see if business is right for you. Get Started in Business will help you take the next step with confidence. Are you ready to be your own boss?

Eligibility criteria: participants must be economically inactive. For more info email: projects@excaliburpress.co.uk.

Workshops: Side Hustles and Self Employment: How to get Started in Business:

Tuesday 9 December, Online, 15:00 - 16:00

Wednesday 10 December, Ards Arts Centre, 10:00 - 12:00

The Ultimate Pitch - Winner of the local heat will progress to Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch Final

Parents’ ASD aid secures ‘The Ultimate Pitch’ in Ards and North Down

A mum who has designed an app to support the parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has taken the top prize in the Ards and North Down heat of Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch.

Alexandra Mooney from Newtownards came up with the idea for ND Nook after struggling to use the traditional materials she was given to support ASD for her own child. She secured £1,000 investment for  her business, and a place in the regional Ultimate Pitch Final next month where she’ll be in with the chance of an additional £5,000.

The competition is organised by the government-backed enterprise support service Go Succeed.

Alexandra said traditional methods for dealing with ASD – from visual communications charts to schedules and timers - were cumbersome and outdated, while also taking up valuable space.

Her idea for ND Nook is an app that provides the same tools digitally in a form that can be easily transported and updated, for use in the home, on the go, and in education and hospital settings.

She was among ten entrepreneurs to pitch at the local Ultimate Pitch heat at the Cultra Manor, with others including Hannah Crothers who won the local Rising Star Award for her business Doggy Doodles which creates bespoke dog portraits, and baker Fiona Matthan from One Love Bakes who received the local Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award.

Participants each presented a three-minute pitch to a panel of judges that included Fiona O’Neill, Regency Carpets; Claire Anketell, Inspiring Yarns; and Derek Wright, Street Life.

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum, said:

“The Ards and North Down heat of Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch has shone a spotlight on the incredible entrepreneurial talent that thrives right across our borough. Congratulations to all of the finalists for delivering such engaging and inspiring pitches.

“We wish the overall winner the very best of luck for the regional final and look forward to seeing their business, and all the participants, go from strength to strength in the months and years ahead.”

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 16–25-year-old entrepreneur, will also receive £1,500 towards their business idea.

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.