Ormeau Business Park Supports Young Entrepreneurs at QUB's Futurum Programme

We at Ormeau Business Park were delighted to participate in the culmination of Queen's University Belfast's Futurum Programme on Wednesday, August 28th, 2024. This innovative 10-week entrepreneurial skills programme, delivered by The Graduate School at Queen's, offered participants a unique opportunity to develop and practice key entrepreneurial competencies.

Our manager, Patricia McNeill, had the privilege of serving as a guest panel member, providing valuable feedback to the participants as they showcased their newly honed pitching skills.

The Futurum Programme, expertly coordinated by Chris Shannon from Startium and Kat Maguire, focused on developing essential entrepreneurial skills through a variety of activities and workshops. Participants engaged in sessions covering topics such as:

• Developing entrepreneurial mindsets

• Networking strategies

• Exploring entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in career paths

• Personal branding and professional presentation

• Idea generation and validation

• Prototyping and digital testing

• Team dynamics and formation

• Understanding business models

• Customer discovery techniques

• IP considerations and commercialization strategies

• Mastering the art of pitching
  

  As the programme drew to a close, participants had the opportunity to put their skills into practice by pitching ideas they believed could create commercial, social, or environmental value. The focus was on the pitching process itself rather than the specifics of the ideas, providing a supportive environment for participants to build confidence in their presentation skills.
  
  We were thoroughly impressed by the enthusiasm and growth demonstrated by all participants. Special congratulations go to Thanussha Ulaghanathan, who was named the Overall Winner, and Varshitha Manjunath, who secured the Runner-Up position. Their performances stood out in what was undoubtedly a field of talented and motivated individuals.
  
  We extend our heartfelt thanks to Chris Shannon and Kat Maguire for their outstanding work in organizing this programme and for inviting our manager, Patricia, to participate in the final event. The day was a resounding success, showcasing the development of these aspiring entrepreneurs over the course of the programme.
  
  Ormeau Business Park remains committed to fostering innovation and supporting young talent in Northern Ireland. We believe that programmes like Futurum play a crucial role in developing the skills and confidence needed for success in today's dynamic business landscape.
  
  To all the participants: your dedication and progress throughout this programme were truly remarkable. We're excited to see how you'll apply these newly honed skills in your future endeavours, whether in creating your own ventures or bringing an entrepreneurial spirit to established organizations.
  
  We look forward to continuing our support for initiatives that nurture the next generation of business leaders and innovators in our community.