Independent research into Catalyst’s Hello Possible programme points to stronger entrepreneurial confidence among people who may not have previously seen business ownership as an option

Independent research commissioned by Catalyst has found that 86% of participants in its Hello Possible programme wanted to start a business offer after completing the new course. The report was produced by the National Centre for Family Business at DCU Business School and looked at participant survey data and interviews with previous participants.

Hello Possible is designed to help people across Northern Ireland explore self employment and business creation as a credible route. The programme, funded by the Department for the Economy, supports participants to move from early stage curiosity to testing and validating a business idea.

The findings suggest that entrepreneurship support can make a practical difference before a company is formed. Catalyst said 81% of participants wanted to develop their business idea further, 69% signed up for more entrepreneurial learning and more than two thirds reported greater confidence in their own entrepreneurial skills.

For Chamber members, the research is relevant because business growth in Derry, the North West and across Northern Ireland depends not only on scaling existing firms, but also widening the pipeline of future founders. Programmes that build confidence, problem solving skills and market testing can help people see enterprise as a realistic option, including those from communities or backgrounds less traditionally associated with start up activity.

The programme uses a structure entrepreneurship approach focused on understanding customers and validating market need before building solutions. That is a useful message for early stage founders and established businesses alike: successful innovation depends on identifying a real problem speaking to customers and testing demand before committing time and resources.

Catalyst’s full Entrepreneurship and Human Flourishing report is available here

The Takeaway

Building entrepreneurial confidence earlier and more widely could help strengthen Northern Ireland’s future pipeline, including across the North West.