The camps brought together expert facilitators, mentors and local business leaders, allowing students to ideate, create, and pitch business concepts for feedback and further development.
From these Ideation Sessions and Innovation Camps, several standout projects emerged, including The Beauty Wheel, Smartbox Medication, Accessibility Desk and the CABT App. These concepts were selected for further development into working prototypes, with full funding and support provided by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council through Go Succeed. The College worked closely with local design and manufacturing partner Demanu to bring the prototypes to life.
Demanu, a Northern Ireland-based product development company, has been instrumental in turning student ideas into tangible innovations. Operating from their Microfactory, the Demanu team completed a wide range of production stages in just one week—from CNC machining, powder coating, and laser cutting to electronic programming and final assembly. Their commitment to innovation, sustainability, and fast prototyping ensured that these student concepts became functional, professional-grade products ready for real-world testing.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman William McCaughey, added: "The Councils are keen to ensure that entrepreneurial skills and ambitions are embedded from a young age to encourage and support future entrepreneurs and develop creativity and innovation in the talent pipeline. Through the Go Succeed service, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is delighted to be able to deliver outreach activity alongside our partners in Causeway Coast and Glens, Mid Ulster, and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Councils, and are committed to working closely with Northern Regional College. The College shares our geographical footprint and our ambition to inspire the next generation of innovators and business leaders."
Following the successful prototyping stage, these projects entered Northern Regional College’s internal Further Education Sector Project-Based Learning (PBL) competition, which took place at the Causeway Campus. The Beauty Wheel went on to win the Level 2 category and the Accessibility Desk went on to win the Level 3 category. Smartbox Medication also received Special Recognition in the Level 3 category from the judging panel for its thoughtful solution to medication management.
The PBL competition showcased a range of innovative ideas from nearly 200 students across Level 2 and Level 3 courses, reflecting the talent, creativity, and enterprise potential within Northern Regional College’s student community.
Mel Higgins, Principal and Chief Executive of Northern Regional College, said, "It was a privilege to attend and judge the recent competition at Northern Regional College. Seeing our students apply their knowledge to real-world problems and push the boundaries of creativity was truly inspiring. These experiences don’t just teach skills—they shape futures. Congratulations to all who took part and special thanks to our PBL staff team for their commitment to delivering such a dynamic and valuable initiative."
The Beauty Wheel, which supports sustainability and efficiency within the beauty industry, will now represent Northern Regional College at the Further Education Sector Final, set to take place at SRC in Armagh on Wednesday 22 May. The Smartbox, an electronic device that safely dispenses medication at programmed times, continues to gain interest from potential partners for further development and testing.
Go Succeed is Northern Ireland’s free enterprise support service, delivering tailored support to entrepreneurs and businesses no matter where they are on their business journey – whether they have an idea, are just starting out or are looking to grow or scale their existing business. Supported by the UK Government, go Succeed is delivered by Northern Ireland’s eleven local councils. For more information and to sign up to Go Succeed visit www.go-succeed.com.
To find out more about the wide range of courses available at Northern Regional College including business, health and social care, beauty therapy, hospitality and many more visit www.nrc.ac.uk or follow the College on social media for updates on events, enrolment, and future opportunities to get involved in initiatives like Go Succeed.