Invest NI to Propel local ideas to global markets

The Propel programme is designed for entrepreneurs with business ideas that have the potential to scale up and reach significant export growth. It has already helped many local entrepreneurs to set up and grow successful businesses based on innovative ideas, products and technology and applications for the 2013 programme are currently being accepted. For more information or to apply for support through the Propel programme, go to www.propelprogramme.co.uk

Propel is designed for entrepreneurs with ideas for businesses that have the potential to scale up and reach significant export growth. It has already helped many local entrepreneurs to set up and grow successful businesses based on innovative ideas, products and technology.

Alastair Hamilton, Invest NI’s chief executive, said: “For our economy to grow we need more innovative, export focused businesses like the kind supported through Propel.

“The programme’s tailored support helps entrepreneurs through the challenging process of taking an idea, funding its development and launching it on to an international stage. Feedback from previous participants has been extremely positive and we have seen some very successful businesses emerge from the programme.”

Propel offers training, workshops, networking opportunities, mentoring and financial support. It is directed at entrepreneurs that have an idea for a business in the knowledge, engineering or niche manufacturing sectors and who are in the advanced planning stages.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate that their business will create jobs in Northern Ireland within the next three years. The closing date for applications is January 22. More information is available at www.propelprogramme.co.uk