Our Deputy Chair, Mary McKenna, has joined DIT’s Global Entrepreneur Team as their first ever dealmaker dedicated to bringing founding teams & their innovative, tech-based businesses to Northern Ireland.  Her new role will use her entrepreneurial experience, global network & detailed understanding of the Northern Irish investment & early stage ecosystem to attract world-class, international technology entrepreneurs with the drive & ambition to accelerate the growth of their business from a new base in Northern Ireland.

The UK government’s Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP) helps high-growth overseas companies relocate to the UK. If you are an entrepreneur or founder of an innovative technology business based overseas you may be eligible for UK government support to help you move your business to the UK.

The GEP offers mentoring and business support to non-UK based founders to help them set up and scale their business from a UK global headquarters.

Support is free and includes:

  • mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs
  • help to develop business plans
  • assistance with relocating to the UK
  • providing introductions to key networks including investors
  • guidance on how to grow internationally
  • continued help from DIT once located in the UK, especially around exporting

GEP participants are mentored by experienced entrepreneurs known as ‘dealmakers’, who are experienced in setting up, building, scaling and selling technology companies.

Once the founder and company have relocated to the UK, GEP continues to support them through its Alumni Academy Programme.

The programme provides support by helping companies:

  • build capability in key business areas
  • scale up and fulfil their export ambitions
  • make connections in the wider UK tech eco-system

Speaking about her new role, Mary said, “For those companies selected for the NI GEP initiative, I will act as an advisor, mentor & supporter at no cost to the entrepreneur.  I’ll share my network & experience to optimise success for those founding teams & their ventures who are relocating to Northern Ireland & I’ll work with the entrepreneur & leadership team throughout the company’s involvement with the Programme.

“As well as tailored strategic support for the entrepreneur/venture, my role includes assistance with the visa process, offering relocation advice, giving guidance on optimising the UK government’s global business supports & innovation networks, liaising closely with Invest Northern Ireland & making the relevant and appropriate linkages into the investment community.

“Northern Ireland makes up for its small size with an accessible, easy-to-navigate & super-friendly tech ecosystem, a great combination of household name multinational companies, highly innovative spin-outs from our world class universities and indigenous startups/scaleups & an abundance of educated & motivated talent.  We specialise in fintech, cybersecurity, AI & data analytics, advanced manufacturing, health & life sciences & we have niche but world class success in creative media, gaming & animation, sports tech & online learning. We are the most affordable (and arguably the prettiest) region of the UK to base your company in & you will be an hour from London.

“So – if you’re a technology founder located outside of the UK, ready to scale and to take advantage of what Northern Ireland & Great Britain can offer in terms of access to talent, capital, market potential and international scale-up guidance, drop me a brief message to mary.mckenna@entrepreneurs.gov.uk & we can arrange to chat.”