To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) for his assessment of the value of the work of Young Enterprise NI; and (ii) whether his Department will consider providing funding to this organisation.

Developing and encouraging our future entrepreneurs is a vital aspect of a vibrant and modern economy. Organisations such as Young Enterprise NI (YENI), Further Education Colleges, Higher Education Institutions, Catalyst and others play an important role in equipping our young people with the skills, knowledge, and ambition to start their own businesses.

My Department, through Invest NI, has recently allocated £12,000 to YENI under an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Business Backer partnership to support the next generation of entrepreneurial talent in the North of Ireland. This will support 1,200 future entrepreneurs annually.

I am supportive of the work that Young Enterprise NI (YENI) does with our young people, and I have instructed my officials to continue to engage with the YENI team to see how we can work together to deliver my policy objectives.