KC donate £60,000 to boost Youth Enterprise in Hull

LOCAL communications provider KC will donate £60,000 to Hull’s Youth Enterprise Bank over the next three years to help support young entrepreneurs to realise their business dreams.


The John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank offers practical support and grants of up to £1,000 for young people who need finance to help set up or develop their businesses. Since it was established in 2003 it has helped more than 150 young entrepreneurs in a wide range of business sectors.

The bank is funded through a range of donations from young entrepreneurs together with Hull Training and is closely linked to the Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership, which aims to encourage young people to become more enterprising and contribute to Hull’s target of creating 1,200 new businesses.The donation from KC means more enterprising young people from Hull and East Yorkshire who are aged from 13 to 21, can receive funding to buy the business equipment and services they need to get started.

Sean Royce, Commercial and Finance Director at KC, said: “We’re delighted to support an organisation that does such important work in nurturing entrepreneurial spirit amongst the region’s young people.

“Today’s enterprising young people today are tomorrow’s employers and it’s vital for their future success that they get the practical and financial support they need in the early days of their business careers.

“As a local responsible business we have a role to play in supporting the region’s economy and stimulating business growth and this is a way of doing that while also inspiring young people to make their careers in business.”

Amongst the businesses the Youth Enterprise Bank has supported are Hessle florist Amanda’s Blue Orchid and health food and smoothie firm Xing Health.

Maureen Foers OBE, Chair of the Youth Enterprise Bank, said: “The donation from KC means we can help more of the region’s young people make their business dreams come true and start them on the path to business success.
“The donation also means that for the first time we can offer grants to young people not just in Hull but across the wider East Yorkshire region.”
KC’s donation follows the recent launch of the KC Invest, an investment fund worth up to £600,000 to the local area, which will support start-ups and expanding businesses in the digital and technology sectors across the region.

The Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership recently launched Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011, which takes place from 14-18 November. During the week children and young people across the region will take part in events to stimulate their interest in business, with guest speakers including The Apprentice stars Ruth Badger and Claire Young.

Ruth Badger, Patron of Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership Said: “I wish to thank KC for agreeing to invest £20,000 a year for the next three years in Hull and East Ridings young people through the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank. There is no doubt that the area has a reputation to be proud of supporting its enterprising young people and this investment shows that KC has bought into that success.”

Sponsors of Global Entrepreneurship Week include KC, Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, the Co-operative, HWS Hosting, NPS Humber, St Stephens, Jobcentre Plus, Hull Training, Hull FC, Hull City AFC, Mail News and Media, Hull College, University of Hull, William Jacksons, City Works, Golding Computer Services and Arco. Businesses who want to get involved should call Charles Cracknell, Youth Enterprise Manager at Hull City Council on (01482) 612983 or visit www.youthenterprise.co.uk

Platinum Sponsors GEW in Hull 2011

With just over two months to go until Global Entrepreneurship Week in Hull, the organisers have attracted support from St Stephen's shopping centre and NPS – Humber who have become platinum sponsors for the event. Hull City Council is working with GH Events and HWS Hosting to deliver a week full of enterprising events for children and young people across the city from 14 - 20 November.  St Stephen's sponsorship will go towards an event for primary school age pupils to celebrate the Make £5 Blossom scheme.

Jim Harris, Centre Manager, St Stephen's, said:
"We have been involved with youth enterprise in Hull for the last three years and are really impressed with everything that the team does. There are lots of different opportunities available for young people in Hull and we decided that this year we wanted to become a major sponsor.

"There is also the chance for us to get involved with the local community and our staff have been going out into schools to meet children and young people, which is really rewarding for them."
Global Entrepreneurship Week is all about embracing innovation, imagination and creativity. It showcases enterprise and opens up new opportunities for young people across Hull, the UK and the world."

Phil Vozza, Managing Director, NPS – Humber, said

“NPS-Humber is pleased to be supporting Global Entrepreneurship Week. The Week offers a series of events which complement our existing support for Hull Ready programmes through which young people are encouraged to think ‘‘business’ and ‘entrepreneurially’ and perhaps to start up their own business or exhibit greater levels of enterprise as employees of entrepreneurial businesses whilst at Primary School”

Councillor Steven Bayes

"We are delighted that St Stephen’s and NPS- Humber have come on board to support this exciting week as platinum sponsors to show how enterprising our young people are. Their support will enable us to bring the world of entreprenurship to over 1,000 young people in the City during November."

"Their support clearly demonstrates that Hull is able to attract representatives from leading organisations who want to help the city's young people achieve their business goals and aspirations."

If any other companies would like to get involved in the week or can offer any sponsorship please contact Charles Cracknell on 612 983.

For more information go to www.youthenterprise-hull.co.uk or www.gew.org.uk.

Hull Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011

Hull Training and the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, the organisers of Hull Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011, have secured from East Riding Company, Claughtons - Furniture Solutions for teaching and learning environments, a major support package for the winner. The award is aimed at recognising a young person in their endeavour to develop their enterprising idea and be the City’s Youth Enterprise Ambassador for 12 months.


The winner of the award will be announced in Global Entrepreneurship Week in November by Hull’s Youth Enterprise Patron, former BBC Apprentice Star and Internationally known business consultant, Ruth Badger.





Claughtons have created the following package worth up to £20,000 to the young person and their business:
* Rent Free of Charge for 12 months at their offices in Melton
* Support towards their marketing campaign
* Full access to senior management at Claughtons for mentoring / support / assistance
* Gerard Toplass, Managing Director at Claughtons, will act as a non-executive Director / Chairman to provide assistance to the winning company


Councillor Steven Bayes, Portfolio Holder for Economic Regeneration & Employment said:

“This is great news that Gerard Toplass and Claughtons are prepared to invest nearly £20,000 work of support over a year in supporting Hull’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 and clearly shows their commitment to supporting the City’s enterprising young people. It is a package that will be worth its weight in gold to any young entrepreneur in the City. This is putting CSR into practice whilst also helping our enterprising young people”

Gerard Toplass, Managing Director of Claughtons said:

“I have chosen to sponsor this award, because I am personally very committed to helping young entrepreneurs deliver on their potential. I feel that very often we identify potential but then don't follow through sufficiently, therefore, unlike normal award schemes where the winners receive recognition and a glass trophy, I want to give this years winner some real tangible help, so we are providing an office space for them, some cash to help them launch their marketing and sales strategy, and some direct mentoring and support from myself and my team at Claughtons. I firmly believe that this 'real' support will help the winner take their business to the next level, and I am confident we can help them create opportunity, employment and become a success story to inspire others"


The deadline for the completed full entry forms will be 1st November 2011 and judging will be completed by 10th November 2011. The winner will be invited to receive their award at the Celebration Event we hold in Global Entrepreneurship Week on November 18th at Staff House at the University of Hull.

Countdown to Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011

The countdown to Global Entrepreneurship Week is underway with just over three months to go and the Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership has established a partnership with local young entrepreneur Richard Myers of Hertz Web Solutions (HWS) to help promote activities during the week and secure funds from sponsors. HWS specialise in web hosting and supporting young entrepreneurs to develop their own websites and host them. They have already developed a brochure to promote the week and are raising sponsorship from the local business community through a range of sponsorship packages.



Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011 runs from 14 - 18 November and is all about embracing innovation, imagination and creativity. It showcases enterprise; opening up new opportunities for young people across Hull, the UK and the world.



Councillor Steven Bayes Portfolio Holder Economic Regeneration and Employment said:

"During this global economic downturn, now more than ever, we need fresh thinkers who spot opportunities, apply their talents and overcome obstacles to make their ideas happen. This is why Hull gets fully behind this important week and engages with our young entrepreneurs of the future and show them off as role models."

Richard Myers, Managing Director at HWS Hosting, said:

" I know as a young entrepreneur myself the support I have had from when I was at school to now from the Hull Youth Enterprise partnership in developing my business so I wanted to put something back so I agreed to part sponsor the week and to promote it to hull’s business community.”!
"We are delighted to lead on their campaign with Hull Training to promote enterprise to the city's young people for Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011. I am pleased to say we have already secured support from Arco, the University of Hull, Hull College, the Co-operative, Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce and Golding Computer Services"

Nicholas Oughtred, Chairman of the William Jackson Food Group said
“We are delighted to support Global Entrepreneurship Week in Hull. As a business which has evolved over 160 years we know how important it is to embrace new ideas and change with the times. Entrepreneurs are key to the success of Britain’s economy and will play a crucial role in helping the country recover out of recession. It is important we support their ideas and encourage their ambition.”