Derry and Strabane Plan Five Days of Events for Entrepreneurs

Derry City and Strabane District Council will run a five-day entrepreneurship programme from Monday 16 to Friday 20 November 2026 as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week. The Council announced the schedule on 2 November 2026, promising practical advice, networking and business support across four council-backed events and one regional pitch final.

The programme covers digital marketing, inclusive entrepreneurship, ethnic minority business support and the celebration of local business success. Entry points target people at every stage, from a first idea to an established enterprise looking to grow.

What happens on each day?

The week opens on Monday 16 November with Stop Scrolling, Start Watching: Creating Content That Actually Works, a masterclass on producing engaging digital content. The Go Succeed Start team hosts it, facilitated by Aimee Lowry and Strabane Enterprise Agency.

Tuesday 17 November brings Diverse Communities Meet Business Opportunities, which gathers entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners from ethnic minority backgrounds to explore support, networking and routes into enterprise. Derry City and Strabane District Council delivers the event with Enterprise North West and Go Succeed, featuring success stories and practical advice from local entrepreneurs.

Wednesday 18 November shifts to competition: local winners of The Ultimate Pitch represent the district at the competition final. They earned the spot through the Derry and Strabane heat, where a social app took the top prize. The Council named neither the winners nor the app.

Thursday 19 November hosts Our Town, Our Success at North West Regional College's Strabane Campus, celebrating local businesses and community achievement.

The programme closes on Friday 20 November with STARTABILITY: Empowering Entrepreneurship, Removing Barriers at the Destined Building in Derry. Delivered with Enterprise North West and Go Succeed, it targets people with disabilities or long-term health conditions who are considering self-employment. Speakers will share their entrepreneurial experiences, and specialist organisations will offer guidance on starting a business and accessing appropriate support.

What did the Council say?

Kevin O'Connor, Head of Business at Derry City and Strabane District Council, said: "Global Entrepreneurship Week is a great opportunity to celebrate the ambition and talent of our local business community while highlighting the support available to help people take their next steps."

He added: "We want to encourage anyone with a business idea, those looking to grow an existing enterprise, and people interested in exploring self-employment to come along. Whether you are just starting out or looking for new opportunities, these events offer a chance to gain practical advice, make valuable connections and find out how the right support can help you succeed."

The Council framed the week as evidence of entrepreneurial breadth across the district and of the support available at every stage of a business journey.

What is missing from the announcement?

The announcement sets no attendance targets, names no funding amounts and lists no speakers beyond the facilitators. Whether the programme will run again in 2027, and how the Council measures its impact on business formation, remain unstated.

Anyone seeking detail beyond the schedule must rely on the events page at go-succeed.com/events/, where bookings and full listings sit. For a council promoting practical business support, the absence of cost figures and outcome measures is a gap worth watching.