Ulster University has marked five years of its award‑winning Enterprise Placement Year (EPY) Programme with a high‑profile celebration at the Stormont Parliament Buildings, highlighting how student entrepreneurship is transforming graduate employability and strengthening Northern Ireland’s economy.
Launched in 2020, the Enterprise Placement Year was introduced as an innovative alternative to traditional industrial placements, enabling students to spend their placement year building businesses, freelancingor launching social enterprises – supported by academic credit, expert mentoring and sector partnerships. Five years on, the programme has become a nationally recognised model for entrepreneurial education.
In acknowledgement of the EPY programme’s success, the Enterprise Placement Year Five Year Celebration took place on Tuesday 19 May 2026 in the Long Gallery at Stormont, hosted by Ulster University in partnership with Employability and Graduate Futures, and sponsored by Mr John Stewart MLA, Chair of the All‑Party Group on Micro and Small Business.
Driving employability through enterprise
Since the EPY was launched:
- More than 100 Ulster University students have taken part in EPY
- More than 65 businesses have been created
- More than £1.25 million in turnover has been generated in 2024-2025
Crucially, 70% of EPY graduates continue to operate their businesses or freelance professionally after graduation, reflecting the programme’s long‑term impact on sustainable employment.
From award‑winning creative studios and digital agencies to manufacturing, sports science, hospitality and technology ventures, EPY graduates are building careers that did not previously exist, and in doing so, positioning themselves as job creators, innovators and changemakers.
The celebration event will bring together students, alumni, policymakers, business leaders and delivery partners who have supported the programme since its inception.
Professor Angela Scanlon, Ulster University Director of Student and Graduate Success said:
“The Enterprise Placement Year is one of Ulster University’s most powerful examples of how higher education can directly impact employability, economic growth and social mobility. Our EPY students graduate with more than a degree; they graduate with confidence, resilience, networks and the ability to create opportunity, not just seek it.”
Award‑winning innovation with national impact
Designed with inclusivity at its core, EPY has supported students from widening participation backgrounds, students with disabilities and those pursuing non‑traditional career paths, particularly in the creative and freelance economy. Graduates from the programme go on to become founders, freelancers, or leaders within established organisations, EPY students emerge as trailblazers and changemakers in their fields.
Sponsor of the event, Mr John Stewart MLA, said:
“Small and micro‑businesses are the backbone of our economy, and programmes like Ulster University’s Enterprise Placement Year are vital in developing the next generation of entrepreneurs. The results speak for themselves and it’s heartening to see the programme continue to produce skilled graduates, sustainable businesses and real economic impact.”
Maja Szotkiewicz, a First Class Honours Degree graduate of Belfast School of Art and Founder of Majukoo, said:
‘EPY allowed me to develop my already existing business Majukoo during my time at Ulster University. Without the 1-2-1 mentoring, networking events and opportunities to develop confidence in my public speaking, I would not be where I am today.
“I use the skills I developed in EPY every day while running my business. If you are 100% passionate about your business idea, willing to put in the work (with lots of mentoring and support) and have tenacity and determination, this programme is for you.”
Looking to the future
As Ulster University continues to expand its enterprise and employability ecosystem, including the launch of new post‑EPY support initiatives and increased industry partnerships, the Enterprise Placement Year remains central to its mission to prepare students for a changing world of work.
This celebration marks not just five years of success, but a growing movement that places enterprise and adaptability at the heart of graduate futures.