Young Enterprise market sees pupils turn business ideas into reality

Carol Fitzsimons, chief executive of Young Enterprise NI has been involved in organising the showcase for more than 10 years.

“This is the biggest year we’ve ever had”, she said.

“It’s very exciting because it’s the first time these students have got to sell their goods to the public and showcase them to business leaders.”

She said the entrepreneurship programme was critical for developing the skills employers need.

“We’re very conscious that this is the post-pandemic generation so a lot of these young people had their schooling disrupted,” she said.

“What we would hear in terms of mental health and their skills is that they have struggled to develop softer skills around relationship building, teamwork and communication”.