Test Town winner bound for UK finals

A Carrickfergus-based entrepreneur is just days away from competing in the UK and Ireland's biggest town regeneration challenge, TestTown.
Mayor Cllr Billy Ashe with Carrickfergus Test Town winner Lisa Davis.  INCT 07-720-CONMayor Cllr Billy Ashe with Carrickfergus Test Town winner Lisa Davis.  INCT 07-720-CON
Mayor Cllr Billy Ashe with Carrickfergus Test Town winner Lisa Davis. INCT 07-720-CON

The competition will see local firm AM Weddings and Events, owned by Lisa Davis, in with the chance of winning up to £10,000 in funding to help grow the business.

The company was crowned winner during the Carrickfergus heats of the Test Town challenge last year.

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The project saw six local entrepreneurs set up a pop-up shop in the town centre for four days in August.

Based at the former Suit premises in Joymount, the unit offered the businesses the opportunity to ‘test trade’ their products.

Lisa will now be one of 12 new start-ups from across the UK and Ireland who will compete in the event.

Now in its third year, TestTown - run by the Carnegie UK Trust - has become the UK and Ireland’s biggest accelerator programme for young entrepreneurs with fresh ideas for helping to rejuvenate the country’s town centres.

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The competition will take place later this month in Glasgow’s historic Saltmarket area from February 22-28.

The finalists will trade from a series of ‘pop-up’ shops shortly after they are allocated time to set-up their stores.

A number of well-known Scottish business leaders will then judge the finalists based on their business concept, future plans and understanding of their chosen industry, with the winner then being ‘crowned’.

Jim Metcalfe, TestTown programme leader at the Carnegie UK Trust, said: “There are just a few weeks to go until Lisa competes in the final of TestTown and we wish her the very best of luck. She has done brilliantly to make it to this final stage.”

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