ENTERPRISING Pendle teenagers are to be given the opportunity to set up and run their own companies - thanks to local company Businesswise Solutions Ltd and Young Enterprise.
The Nelson-based cost reduction and consultancy firm has generously offered to help local secondary school students take part in Young Enterprise’s Company Programme and learn what it takes to be an entrepreneur.
Both directors at the firm will act as volunteer business advisers and work with the students to help them set up and run their own businesses with the company also providing funding support for the year-long programme.
Frazer Durris, director at Businesswise, said: “We were looking at ways in which we could give something back to the area where we live and work but wanted it to be something which had longevity and from which we could see tangible results.”
As both Frazer and fellow director Dean Cockett are in their 30s, it was suggested that they could prove inspirational to teenagers and after thorough research into opportunities right for them, they approached Young Enterprise with their idea.
Dean said: “We were told some of the schools in our area which had historically taken part in the Young Enterprise Company Programme had not been able to afford to put a group forward in the last few years due to Government funding cuts.
“We hoped that by committing to the donation of half of the funds needed for each school, the cost implication would be massively reduced and may persuade them to go ahead.”
Young Enterprise is the UK’s leading enterprise education charity which aims to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and give students an insight into the world of work and what it takes to set up a business.
With the help of the business mentors the students learn, under the charity’s flagship Company Programme, how to raise finance through shares, open a bank account, carry out market research, create a business plan and develop their own unique product or service which they then market and sell.
Sally Hopkins, Young Enterprise Manager for the Lancashire area, said: “More than 25,000 students have taken part in the Company Programme in the UK this year.
“Research has proved that when entering the world of work, the pupils who have taken part in our year-long scheme are considered better candidates, are more passionate about their jobs, are twice as likely to set up their own business and are more successful in their chosen careers.
“The support from Businesswise is enabling more pupils take part in the Company Programme and benefit from all it has to offer and we are looking forward to working with them over the next 12 months and hopefully, beyond.”
Frazer and Dean are to volunteer their time as business mentors over the year and are looking to fellow business colleagues to offer their time to ensure that Pendle’s schools enjoy a shared success.