Chatsworth chat: Entrepreneurs to tackle scourge of youth unemployment

Twenty leading entrepreneurs, including Cobra Beer founder Lord Bilimoria and Betfair co-founder Edward Wray, will meet at the inaugural E20 summit as part of the festival next week, to discuss solutions to combat the surging numbers of young people out of work. New figures yesterday revealed youth unemployment rose by 7,000 to 1.02 million in the three months to July.

The E20 summit – described as a ‘Davos for entrepreneurs’ – will be chaired by Lord Graffham, the Prime Minister’s enterprise adviser.

The business leaders will meet at Chatsworth House next Wednesday, September 19, as part of the three-day entrepreneurs’ festival which runs until next Friday.

Michael Hayman, MADE chairman and co-founder of PR firm Seven Hills, said the E20 aims to tackle “some of the big social challenges that face the country” and have an “entrepreneurial solution at the heart”.

“There are a lot of young people out there who want to be given a chance,” said Mr Hayman.

“Many entrepreneurs have been written off in their careers in the past.”

Mr Hayman added: “One million is a big number and there are certain things that entrepreneurs can do to help young people become more employable or create their own jobs through the creation of small businesses.”

The E20, sponsored by NatWest, will meet three to four times a year and feature a changing board.

It will form a plan to combat youth unemployment, plus ideas around finance, mentoring, apprenticeships and education.

The E20’s members also include Will Butler-Adams, managing director of Brompton Bicycle; Tim Campbell, founder and chief executive of The Bright Ideas Trust; Joe Cohen, founder and CEO of Seatwave; Luke Johnson, chairman of Risk Capital Partners; Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation; Will King, founder and CEO of King of Shaves; Rupert Lee-Browne, founder and CEO of Caxton FX; Paul Lindley, founder and CEO of Ella’s Kitchen; Lara Morgan, founder of Company Shortcuts; Peter Mountford, chairman of Mountford Capital; angel investor Dale Murray; Jamie Murray-Wells, founder and executive chairman of Glasses Direct; Jude Ower, founder and CEO of Playmob; Penny Power, founder of Digital Youth Academy; Doug Richard, founder of School for Startups; David Richards, co-founder and CEO of WANdisco; Stephan Shakespeare, co-founder and CEO of YouGov and Shaa Wasmund, founder and CEO of Smarta.

The E20 will be joined by youth unemployment experts including Michael Mercieca, CEO of Young Enterprise.

MADE: The Entrepreneur Festival is now in its third year, and Mr Hayman said it promises to be the biggest yet. About 2,500 are expected to attend the Thursday event at Sheffield City Hall.

The Yorkshire Post is a media partner and is hosting a fringe event at the festival next Thursday with entrepreneurs new and established including Martin Penny, Chris Hopkins, Nick Glynne and Natasha Whiddon.

Visit www.madefestival.com for tickets.