Cash scheme to help young develop business enterprise

Bradford Council is launching a new project to help young people aged 16 to 24 who have shown aptitude for setting up their own business.

The project is part of the Get Bradford Working scheme. It will provide up to £90,000 of funding opportunities for the voluntary and community sector to develop initiatives that give young people the early support they need to develop their own enterprise.

The launch is taking place at Future House at 10am tomorrow at a special event for community 
and voluntary service organisations.

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The Step up to Business project has been developed in response to research undertaken by University of Bradford School of Management and Barnardo’s.

The research showed that supporting young people develop skills that enable them to run their own business could bring them and the local economy long term benefit.

One example the research focused on was the case of Finn, who is 17 and lives at home.

He is at present not in education, employment or training and 
currently mends friends’ motorbikes, but aspires to be a mechanic.

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He said: “I’d love my own business. I’ve always wanted one.

“I don’t know what would help – I’d need to find out about it.” Finn said he knew he would need money to get started and someone to help him understand how it all worked.

Coun Ralph Berry, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, said: “This is a fantastic project that will help young people who have the enthusiasm and drive to set up their own business but maybe lack some of the knowledge and formal skills to do so.

“We want to reach as many of these enterprises as possible to support their business move to a formal setting that both helps their long term success and adds to the local economy.”

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Interested organisations can find out more about the grants and application process by contacting Kathryn Loftus, 14-19 Participation Officer, on 01274 385831 Mob:07582108759.

Application forms will be made available at the Information Session on the September 5 and will be available to download from www.bradfordcvs.org.uk.

The closing date for applications is September 27.