The Aspire Programme

Welcome to the Aspire Programme. Funded through the INTERREG IVA Cross Border Programme, and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), the Aspire Programme is a unique cross border initiative aimed at micro businesses. Aspire’s primary aim is to help local micro-businesses to grow, while at the same time providing jobs and employment opportunities for graduates in the East Border Region area. Aspire will select 45 micro businesses who can demonstrate the potential for measurable growth for their business in terms of sales, profitability, cross-border trade, innovation and sustainability. Aspire will then train and mentor business owners to help them to develop an effective business improvement plan to achieve that growth. With a clear business plan in place, Aspire will support each business to recruit a graduate whose skills will drive that plan for the next twelve months. Over the next twelve months, Aspire will work with the employer and graduate to monitor the success of the business plan to ensure that the graduate’s particular skills are being used effectively to boost the bottom line for the business and maximise employment opportunities for the graduate. East Border Region Ltd are the partner on the Aspire Programme, with Banbridge District Council as Lead Council.