An entrepreneurship programme delivered by Catalyst has achieved an 86% entrepreneurial intention rate among participants from underrepresented groups across Northern Ireland, according to independent research commissioned by the organisation.

The independent report, produced by the National Centre for Family Business at DCU Business School, draws on participant survey data from Hello Possible, an entrepreneurship development programme delivered by Catalyst and funded by the Department for the Economy (DfE), alongside interviews conducted with past programme participants.

Hello Possible has been designed to help individuals across Northern Ireland explore self-employment and business creation as a credible pathway, equipping participants with the desire, confidence, capabilities and practical tools required to progress from early-stage curiosity to validated business opportunity. The programme is built on 10-year tested MIT entrepreneurship education structure and methodology.

The research, which examined participants from programmes in Cushendall, Enniskillen, Magherafelt, Portadown and east Belfast – found that 86% of people left the Hello Possible programme strongly interested in starting their own business, while 81% sought to develop their business idea further and 69% signed up for further entrepreneurial learning.

On completing the programme, over two thirds of participants reported greater confidence in their own entrepreneurial skills, 96% said their problem-solving skills had improved and 70% said the programme would help their wider circle of friends or community.

The Hello Possible programme is a Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework focused on understanding customers and validating market need before building solutions – recognising that in an increasingly AI-driven world where technology is accessible, market focus is the critical differentiator.

Participants explore their strengths, values and motivations while developing problem-solving skills, before testing their ideas with real customers in a structured, low-risk way.