Makers Support Programme is a new initiative designed to empower makers across the creative and artisan food sectors to build and sustain successful businesses.
The programme brings together three key strands of support, offering practical and accessible opportunities for both early-stage and established makers to develop their businesses and reach new markets.
The Makers Support Programme offers one to one mentoring support on a range of subjects including: finance, marketing, business planning, legal. Mentoring will be offered through the Go Succeed Programme to help businesses to find new markets, new customers and launch new online sales strategies.
The Maker Support Forum is a dedicated space for artisan founders to connect, share ideas, and develop their businesses. Whether you’re just starting out or already established, it offers practical resources, expert guidance, and opportunities to network.
Engage with like-minded makers, exchange experiences, and learn from shared challenges and successes. Access tailored tools, templates, and advice on areas such as product development, branding, and scaling.
You’ll also have the chance to showcase your work, gain feedback, and explore collaborations within a supportive creative community.
The forum will be delivered through a series of four themed workshops, listed below. Each session will combine expert-led learning, practical advice, peer discussion and networking opportunities, helping participants strengthen their business skills, increase their visibility and explore new routes to market.
| Workshop Details | Workshop Title | Guest Speaker | What will be covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 15th September 2026 Portadown Town Hall 6.00pm – 7.30pm | Scaling your maker business | Olivia Sherry-O’Reilly, Freedom Cosmetics | Practical steps needed to move from small-scale production to a more structured and resilient business model, including understanding demand, planning stock levels, improving production processes, managing supplier relationships and identifying when additional support, equipment or workspace may be required. How to price for growth, protect profit margins, streamline product range and decide which products are best suited to wholesale, online sales, events or collaborative opportunities. |
| Wednesday 4th November 2026 The Market Place Theatre, Armagh 6.00pm – 7.30pm | Selling online – building digital routes to market | Louise Morrow, Jasmine & Lily at Home. Emma Walsh, Zara & Co Events | Understand how to sell online effectively. Explore pricing for online sales, online customer service, digital marketing and how to choose the right online channel. How to grow email lists, announce new product drops, offer VIP discounts and share your brand journey. Use the right platforms to build your own online shopfront, where you can control the customer experience and keep a larger proportion of the sales. |
| Wednesday 13th January 2027 Banbridge Town Hall 6.00pm – 7.30pm. | Storytelling – communicating the value of your business | Claire Geddis, Wild Shore. Michelle McGeough, Busy Bee & Co. Sinead McKeever, SM Marketing Services | Highlight the power of storytelling as a way to communicate what makes a business unique, including the inspiration behind the product, the skills and craftsmanship involved, the values of the maker and the journey that has shaped the business. By sharing a clear and compelling story, makers can create stronger brand, stand out in a competitive marketplace and give customers a meaningful reason to choose their product. Additionally, the use of good photography and video tips – using a smartphone. How to maximise value using Apps and AI tools. |
| Thursday 11th March 2027 Lurgan Town Hall 6.00pm – 7.30pm | Pitching your business – presenting with confidence | Sam Sheppard, Juice Bar Uk & Ireland. Andrew Cornett local Tax Director. Ciaran Cuningham and Kirsty Corrigan, Enterprise NI Network. | Explore how to pitch your business clearly and confidently to buyers, funders, collaborators, and potential investors. The session will also help makers understand what investors are looking for, including evidence of customer interest, a strong business model, realistic financial projections, clear use of investment funds and the capability to deliver future growth. |
The Pop-Up Shop initiative is designed to support new and existing makers from across the creative and artisan food sectors an opportunity to showcase products and services in a prime retail space—without the long-term commitment of a traditional lease.
This initiative offers a flexible and affordable way to test ideas, reach new customers, and grow your brand in a supportive environment.
Participants will benefit from:
Applications have now closed
