Young Entrepreneurs from Hull have successful visit to South Africa

A delegation of young entrepreneurs from Hull has returned from taking part in South Africa’s largest entrepreneurial event, the Hook up Dinner and Demo Africa.  During the visit young entrepreneurs met enterprising young people in the townships outside Johannesburg as well as visiting a number of highly successful enterprise hubs that operate in the Gauteng Region.

During the visit, young entrepreneurs Thomas Arran, Kit Hargreaves and Haggai Mwiko, made successful contacts with South African entrepreneurs and plan to look at future opportunities as well as agreeing to support the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank in supporting enterprising young people in Johannesburg and surrounding townships through the Hook up Dinner, Biz Kidz South Africa and Beyond the Lemonade Stand.

Maureen Foers OBE - Chair John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank

“It was a great opportunity for some of our young entrepreneurs to represent Hull at South Africa’s largest entrepreneurial event, the Hook up Dinner Event in Johannesburg, alongside representatives from the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Uganda, Nigeria, Mozambique, Namibia, Kenya, Swaziland and South Africa. As a partnership we are very proud of our youth enterprise programme and the support it gets from Hull City Council and the business community. We are pleased that positive outcomes have come out of the visit not only between entrepreneurs but also between ourselves and the Hook up Dinner."

Thomas Arran - Co Chair Hull's Let Talk Business Network and Photographer

“It was a fantastic opportunity to visit enterprising people like myself in South Africa. Having started my own business at the age of 17, with the support of Hull City Council, it was interesting to see what support young people have in South Africa, there is no doubt in my mind South Africa's young people are very enterprising"

Kit Hargreaves - Apple Pear

“From a personal point of view, I was very pleased to attend the Hook up Dinner event and Demo Africa in Johannesburg, meeting young entrepreneurs from across Africa and I look forward to developing further business opportunities with the contacts I have made. It was interesting to note that young people in South Africa face the same issues as those in the UK with lack of funding from banks and not enough people taking their dreams seriously" 

Haggai Mwiko - founder and chairman of Habby Business

"There is no doubt in my mind South Africa has a bright future, I was particularly inspired by the young people in Alexandra and Soweto townships and those that support them such as Beyond the Lemonade Stand, Biz Kidz South Africa and the Hook up Dinner. As a business I am looking forward to establishing concrete business opportunities in the UK for some of the South African entrepreneurs that I met."

Selebogo Molefe CEO - Lifesgud Global Investments (Pty) Ltd and founder of the Hook up Dinner said:

“In 2014 I visited Hull, to see how Hull City Council were supporting young entrepreneurs and the return visit by young entrepreneurs from Hull to Johannesburg was a great success. We were extremely pleased that two of our enterprise education projects, Beyond the Lemonade Stand and Biz Kidz South Africa, based in Soweto and Alexandra Townships respectively, will receive support from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank along with local entrepreneur Kabelo Mogale for his new venture Plus News South Africa that features good news stories only.

I am delighted that with the support of Hull City Council and the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank we will be running your Make £5 Blossom Programme and delivering the Big 13 Enterprise Skills in our schools as we build up our youth enterprise Eco system”

 Further Information

1) The Hook up Dinner www.thehookupdinner.com bridges the gap by capacitating them with access to networks, education and investments into their businesses. We partner with organisations that see an economic opportunity in capacitating SME’s by helping them access our vetted community of entrepreneurs.

2) The John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank www.youthenterprise.co.uk supports enterprising young people aged 13 to 21 with a grant, a business mentor and opportunities to network and work with colleagues at Hull Youth Support Trust.

3) Beyond the Lemonade Stand is a social enterprise, whose mission is to develop a generation of South Africans that believes they are capable of achieving their dreams, not just believes but also acts on it too. The project is run by Thokoza Mjo.

4) Biz Kidz South Africa is supporting enterprise education programmes in the townships and the JCYEB is supporting it with a grant and advice on enterprise skills locally in the Alexandra Township, it is run by Siya Mtshali, founder of Young Minds Group.

Patron announced of Making Changes for Careers Programme.

The Making Changes for Careers ( MC4C) Project, which is part financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund (ESF) and is supported by the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) to extend employment opportunities and develop a skilled workforce, is delighted to announce Adam Corbally as its first Patron.

Adam’s appearances on a number of TV shows, including BBC The Apprentice, has helped to make him a well-known champion of entrepreneurs and young ones in particular. 

Adam found his own way in life, learning as he went and quickly carving out a serious career as a businessman, and he is now in the position to pass on that knowledge to young people in Hull.

Councillor Martin Mancey said:

“As a city we are always pleased to work with national ambassadors to support our enterprising young people, and we are delighted to see that Adam Corbally is the new patron of the Making Changes for Careers Programme. 

"We are delighted to be partnered up with Humber Learning Consortium, John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank and the Hull Youth Support Trust to support potential young entrepreneurs."

Adam Corbally said:

“To be asked to support such a unique project is an honour and I look forward to representing their good work in the future.  My motto is that you don’t need a dissertation to be an inspiration and, although I believe education is key, if you aren’t academic you can still be a success.  I feel the Making Changes for Careers Project gives young people the encouragement and belief that being your own boss is possible.”

Mike Thompson, Manager Hull Youth Support Trust and  Chair of Making Changes For Careers Management Committee said:

“We welcome the  opportunity to work with such an inspiring ambassador of the young business community and thank him for his continued support following his involvement in Global Entrepreneurship Week in Hull.” 

ENDS


The MC4C Project is an exciting new enterprise programme for young people aged 16 to 29 who are not in employment, education or training who would like to start their own business. 

It offers young people training in the ‘Big 13’ Enterprise Skills, as well as offering them the opportunity to apply to the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank for funding to develop their business ideas and get access to Hull's new youth enterprise centre run by the Hull Youth Support Trust.

Young people also have the opportunity to access an experienced business mentor who will be on hand to offer expert advice and guidance, as well as taking part in the, Greenpower Trust supported, Project Blyth in which young people learn key STEM as well as Enterprise skills and the chance to build and drive an electric car as well access new technology based programmes.
 

Hull Young Entrepreneurs invited to South Africa

A delegation of Hull young entrepreneurs have been invited to take part in in South Africa’s largest entrepreneurial event #THUDfest 31 Aug to 2 Sept for 2016 in Johannesburg. Hull City Council and the Youth Enterprise Partnership have been sharing good practice with colleagues in South Africa for two years and now it’s time to build on those relations to develop practical business and learning opportunities. With the support of KCOM our young entrepreneurs have been communicating via online technology in events during Global Entrepreneurship Week since 2014.

Cllr Martin Mancey

It is a great opportunity for some of our young entrepreneurs to represent the City at South Africa’s largest entrepreneurial event The Hook up Dinner Annual Conference in Johannesburg in order to not only find new business opportunities but also to share their own enterprise journeys to 100’s of South Africans and to see how we have develop mutual opportunities for our young people in Hull and those in South Africa.

We look forward to welcoming Selebogo Molefe and entrepreneurs from South Africa to Hull as part of Hull’s City of Culture celebrations and to show them our many fantastic regeneration projects that young people of the City will benefit from.

Thomas Arran - Photographer

“To be given the opportunity to visit enterprising people like myself in South Africa is amazing.  Having started my own business at the age of 17, with the support of the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, I think this will be a fantastic opportunity to be able to go visit young people in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa and see how they are supported.”

Kit Hargreaves, Apple Pear.

“From a personal point of view, I see this trip as an opportunity to do just that, to learn. We are not going there to impart our business expertise, but to see how organisations are helping young people succeed in less luxurious support systems than we have here, and to see how those young people can grow into successful businesses.”

Haggai Mwiko founder and chairman of Habby Business

"Africa has a bright future, not only is it encouraging to see more upcoming entrepreneurs but also inspiring. Habby Business therefore wants to be part of that journey by contributing in any way no matter how small and I am really excited to be taking part in South Africa’s largest entrepreneurial event, The Hook up Dinner Annual Conference in Johannesburg."

Selebogo Molefe CEO - Lifesgud Global Investments (Pty) Ltd said

In 2014 I visited Hull as part of fact finding mission to see how your City and Council were supporting young entrepreneurs and I was highly impressed – since when we have held web based link ups and I am pleased that a delegation supported by your John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank will be visiting us and taking part in South Africa’s largest entrepreneurial event, The Hook up Dinner Annual Conference in Johannesburg.

I am very confident that we will be able to further develop links between your great City and Johannesburg – we are particularly interested to know more about your £5 Blossom Programme, your Youth Enterprise Bank, your enterprising teachers group, Project Blyth run by Greenpower Trust that enables young people to learn more about STEM and Enterprise, and your latest programme, MC4C, which will inspire young people who are the furthest away from the labour market to set up in business.”

Further Information

1)      The Hook up Dinner https://thehookupdinner.com bridges the gap by capacitating them with access to networks, education and investments into their businesses. We partner with organisations that see an economic opportunity in capacitating SME’s by helping them access our vetted community of entrepreneurs.

2)      The John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank www.youthenterprise.co.uk supports enterprising young people aged 13 to 21 with a grant, a business mentor and opportunities to network and work with colleagues at Hull Youth Support Trust.

Hull Youth Enterprise Awards 2016

Nominations are now open for a series Hull Youth Enterprise Awards 2016 that recognise Hull's enterprising schools and businesses.

The awards, which are organised by Hull City Council in partnership with the Hull Youth Enterprise Bank, include the following categories:
Most enterprising school in Hull 2016
The business that has done the most to promote an enterprise culture in the city 2016
The Sheila Waudby Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2016
Most Enterprising Teacher 2016
The Jane Disbrey Enterprising Student Award 2016
Best Newcomer School to Enterprise Education 2016

Special Awards
John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Award
Lee Creamer Youth Enterprise Leadership Award
Jack Brignall Youth Enterprise Award

The awards are sponsored by local businesses and organisations from across the city. This year's award winners will be announced in Global Entrepreneurship Week at the Guildhall in November.

The deadline for completed entry forms will be Thursday 1 October and judging will be completed by Saturday 10 October.

Winners will be invited to receive their award at the celebration event on Friday 18 November at the Guildhall as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week. The winning schools will receive an engraved plaque and £200 to further develop enterprise activity.

Councillor Martin Mancey, said: "I look forward to welcoming the nominations for these awards from across the city as we look to develop Hull's entrepreneurial culture amongst our young people.

"The Council in partnership with the Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership is committed to supporting our enterprising young people and we are more than aware that the young people of this city are our future, and we want them to move forward in life equipped with the right skills to build successful careers."

Nick Sangwin, MD of the Sangwin Group Chair of Global Entrepreneurship Week Planning Group, added: "As the Chair of the Global Entrepreneurship Week Planning Group I am pleased that this year the awards will go ahead thanks to the support of sponsors.

"There is no doubt that Hull as a city has real commitment through the Youth Enterprise Partnership to develop the enterprising skills of young people. With the right support and encouragement Hull's young people are truly enterprising, and whilst not all will pursue an entrepreneurial career in the future, the majority of them will most certainly use their skills to help impact their outlook on life and in the workplace."

Call for budding young entrepreneurs

Young people across the city are invited to pitch their business ideas to former Apprentice star Ruth Badger for the Badgers Sett Enterprise Challenge this year.

Students will have the opportunity to enter the Badgers Sett Enterprise Challenge under three different categories including Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and Business Idea for 16-24 year olds.

Entrants must be living in Hull, East Riding, Scarborough or Ryedale area, and have an enterprising idea for a new business, a co-operative, a community project or an enterprising school or college project.

Prizes for each category include:

·        Primary School - up to £500

·        Secondary School - up to £750

·        Post 16 / Business idea for 16-24 year olds - up to £1,200

Councillor Martin Mancey, Portfolio Holder with responsibility for employment, said:

“As a Council we have a real commitment to developing an enterprise culture amongst our young people through the Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership, so that they in turn can grasp any future opportunities presented to them through the work they do.

“I am pleased that once again Ruth has committed her support to this enterprise challenge and we look forward to working with young entrepreneurs like Millie Notarantonio last year, who went on to win many awards including the Most Enterprising Student at the Youth Enterprise Awards 2015.”

13 year-old Millie Notarantonio of Millie Rose, winner of the Badgers Sett Enterprise Challenge 2015, said:

"I was really pleased to win the Badgers Sett Enterprise Challenge last year which meant that I could purchase a new multi-heat press, so I was able to provide a wider range of personalised products  and attract many new customers.

"Since I won I’ve had the opportunity to speak at a National Careers Week in Hull and represented young entrepreneurs at a meeting with the Shadow Small Business Minister, Bill Esterson MP, about what the government needs to do to support young entrepreneurs.

“There is no doubt that without the support of Ruth, I would not have got as far as I have with my business idea."

Ruth Badger added: "I am very passionate about enterprise and ensuring young people have the opportunity to engage in it. Out of all the cities and towns in the UK that I work with, I believe that Hull are the best at engaging real entrepreneurs and successful businesses in partnering up with future young entrepreneurs, and that is why I set up this competition in this area with the Hull City Council seven years ago.

"I want to encourage young people in Hull and the East Riding to come forward and grasp the opportunity to develop their idea on their own especially if they need some extra confidence with financial resource and mentoring."

The deadline for entries is October 1 2016. www.hullbadgers.co.uk 

European Funding to support enterprising young people

Hull City Council in partnership with the Hull Youth Support Trust are to launch an exciting new enterprise programme called “The Making Changes for Careers” aimed at young people who are not in employment or education.

As part of the scheme young people will be able to find out more about the Big 13 Enterprise Skills, as well as having the chance to access grants from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank in order to develop their business ideas.

Young People will also have the opportunity to access an experienced business mentor who will be on hand to offer expert advice and guidance. The young people who want one will receive a start up kit that we have produced in partnership with Emma Jones of Enterprise Nation and features young entrepreneurs from Hull.

Councillor Martin Mancey, Portfolio Holder for Energy City with responsibility for employment, said:

“Hull has a national reputation for supporting its enterprising young people and I am really pleased that the Council along with its partners has managed to secure funding for another programme to support potential young entrepreneurs.

“The scheme is a fantastic opportunity for us to help support young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs) by turning their ideas into a viable business opportunity.”

The brand new scheme received £382,229 of funding from the European Social Fund and Youth Employment Initiative as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England.

Tracey Leedham, Youth Enterprise Officer, said:

“As a former business owner I know how important it is when setting up and developing your own business to ensure that the product or service you are providing is well-received by your potential customers.

"My team and I have a vast amount of experience and we look forward to sharing it with the next generation of young entrepreneurs by helping them to unlock their business potential.

"We look forward to working with partner teams across the project and sharing the vast amount of experience both I and my team have with the next generation of young entrepreneurs, by helping them to unlock their business potential."

Emma Jones, Founder of Enterprise Nation

" We are delighted to be working with Hull City Council to produce a start up kit for the young people involved in the Making Changes for Careers Programme and I wish Charles and his team well in helping even more young entrepreneurs in the city as it already has a national reputation for its work as seen by the case studies in the start up kit and the fact that the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank won the Enterprising Britain Competition in 2015 and was runner up in the European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2015."

Further Information:

1)            Humber Learning Consortium is the lead partner for the Springboard Hull and Humber partnership project. This activity is part financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund (ESF) and is supported by the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) to extend employment opportunities and develop a skilled workforce.

2)            The programme aims to deliver enterprise skills programmes to over 200 young people over the next two years and aims to set up 50 new businesses by young people over the next two years.

3)            The Making Changes for Careers programme has received £382,229 of funding from the European Social Fund and Youth Employment Initiative as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. The Department for Work and Pensions (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme. Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations.

4) The Team consists of Haggai Mwiko and Kirsty Barr who are youth enterprise advisers, Tracy Leedham Youth Enterprise Officer and Yvonne Gosling Youth Enterprise Support Officer.

 

John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank extends its influence.

A pilot project to attract aspiring young entrepreneurs based across Scarborough, Norton on Derwent, Malton and Pickering is being launched.

The Youth Enterprise Bank is looking to support enterprising young people between the ages of 13 – 21 to offer guidance, financial support and practical advice to help get their business ideas of the ground.

The YEB has already won a number of awards for the work they do including the Enterprising Britain Competition 2015. It was also a runner up in the European Enterprise Awards last November after supporting hundreds of young people in Hull and the East Riding.

Charles Cracknell Hull Youth Enterprise Manager said:

“Both the Council and YEB have engaged with enterprising individuals from Scarborough and Ryedale over the years, so it was only natural for the team to partner up with colleagues in the area to expand the offer and encourage young people to take control of their future.

“We hope that young people based in these areas will take the opportunities offered by the YEB and that local businesses within the community will consider becoming mentors to assist the young entrepreneurs.

“With the entrepreneurial spirit spreading across the UK it is essential that we nurture home-grown talent and give young people the chance to consider running their own business.”

Councillor William Oxley, Ryedale District Council, said

"We are delighted that this pilot project to benefit young people with business ideas will now be brought to Norton on Derwent, Malton and Pickering and would hope to see it rolled out across Ryedale in the future. 

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of a rural area and we need to encourage and support the spirit of enterprise. It is another way in which businesses can engage with young people to help develop both employability and enterprise skills, an area in which RDC is already actively involved.

“Hull is a beacon in the field of enterprise education and youth entrepreneurship  and we are excited by this initiative and working with Hull City Council."

Tina Boden, founder of Enterprise Rockers, said:

“As a group that works with small businesses across the UK and champions of Micro Biz Matters Day we are delighted to be working with Hull City Council and the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank in promoting the Big 13 enterprise skills and your youth entrepreneurship programme.

“As I travel up and down the country it is obvious to me that Hull has managed to put all the ingredients together to make a fantastic youth enterprise programme and I hope that in Scarborough and Ryedale we can see young people develop their enterprising idea thanks to the great work that the YEB do.”

To find out more, please visit www.youthenterprise.co.uk

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The Youth Enterprise Bank and The Youth Enterprise Bank and its management committee have always been supported by, and involved, young entrepreneurs and local businesses and in the last three years has received significant input from Hull based telecommunications company KC (£60,000).

The Youth Enterprise Bank also has a Bondholder scheme  http://www.jcyeb-bondholders.co.uk enabling local businesses to donate from £250 to £1000. These funds are used to support local young entrepreneurs with the bondholders being recognised for their support and commitment to young people and the local economy.