Summary
Business support programme for women which includes practical training, expert-led workshops, peer support, and ongoing guidance.
Additional information
Spark It ABC is a fully funded 12-week support programme for women in the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area who are thinking about starting a business or in the early stages of trading.
Funded by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and delivered in partnership with Women in Business NI, the programme runs from October 2025 to January 2026.
Spark It ABC offers 25 places and combines practical training, expert-led workshops, peer support and ongoing guidance to help participants build a strong foundation for their business journey.
What’s Included
Participants will benefit from
- six expert-led business modules (online and in-person) covering mindset, marketing, finance, operations and planning
- two digital marketing workshops, delivered by Digital 24, focusing on SEO, visibility, social media and email marketing
- two Champion-led peer support groups, offering guidance, encouragement and structured accountability with experienced female entrepreneurs
- a private Facebook group to stay connected, ask questions and share your progress throughout the programme
Programme Dates
Spark It ABC runs from October 2025 to January 2026 with a mix of in-person and online sessions. Participants should review these dates before applying to ensure they can attend all sessions
- Thursday 23 October 2025 – In person, 10am to 4pm
- Thursday 6 November 2025 – Online, 10am to 1pm
- Thursday 13 November 2025 – Online, 10am to 1pm
- Thursday 20 November 2025 – In person, 10am to 4pm
- Thursday 27 November 2025 – Online (Digital 24), 10am to 1pm
- Thursday 4 December 2025 – Online (Digital 24), 10am to 1pm
- Peer Support Sessions – Held between 7 November and 21 December 2025 (online, dates arranged within small groups)
- Thursday 8 January 2026 – Final Showcase, In person, 7pm to 9pm
Note In-person sessions will take place at accessible venues within the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough area.
The application deadline is 5pm on Friday 28 July 2025.
