Local entrepreneurs have been celebrating their success at a special ceremony in Belfast City Hall.
The celebration was hosted by Belfast City Council for local craft industries who completed the its Market Start-Up Programme.
Twenty entrepreneurs took part in the popular business programme earlier which was launched to provide support to people in the city who wanted to set up a food or craft business and test trade by selling their products at St George’s Market.
Since participating in the programme, some of the businesses have been trading at St George’s Market regularly and selling their products at other venues across the city.
The success of the programme has also led to one local entrepreneur open her own textile shop in east Belfast selling her unique range of crafts and fabrics as well as running workshops on sewing, quilting and pattern-making.
Two of the programme participants will also be selling their products at stands at the Belfast Spring Continental Market and Belfast Maritime Continental Market at the end of May.
Programme participant Asa McDowell from Asa McDowell Crafts test traded her products for the first time at St George’s Market earlier this year and has now opened her shop, The Textile Studio, in Ballyhackamore.
“The Market Start-Up Programme has been fantastic and has given me the confidence to go ahead and plan towards opening my first shop,” she said.
“I loved the idea of opening a store which would not only sell my crafts and fabrics but provide a space where I can run workshops to build on skills like sewing, quilting and pattern-making.”
Graeme Hassard started up his own business Eat Sweet which makes luxury desserts.
He said: “I now trade at St George’s Market every Sunday which is a great place to promote my business through catering for corporate and domestic parties and events.”
For further information on the Market Start-Up Programme and council’s support for local business, you can visit the council website at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/business or visit the council’s Belfast Business page at www.facebook.com/belfastbusinessinfo