Young Start-up Talent too showcase during Global Entrepreneurship Week in London

The project carries a prize fund worth £50,000 in business products and services to benefit the young entrepreneurs in the four areas it currently runs in the South East – Gatwick Diamond, Brighton & Hove, West Kent and East Kent. The team attracts the local and national businesses within a community who all help contribute to the prize fund by providing business products and services to the young entrepreneurs in each area.

The keynote address at the event will be the Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP and Minister for Skills and Enterprise.

“Young Start-up Talent rightly recognises that to get a business up and running, a combination of funding and quality business advice can be vital to set a new firm on the road to success. Expanding the competition across the country will help even more young entrepreneurs gain the support and experience they need to realise their ambitions and compete in the global race.” commented Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock MP.

Other speakers at the event will be from businesses that have been involved in the initiative in the past such as Jane McGill – HR Business Partner for British Airways, Bob Heapy – CEO of Town & Country Housing Group, Sam French of Sam’s Kitchen a previous winner of the initiative along with the founders of the project Lorraine Nugent – MD of Media Word Waves and Matt Turner – MD Creative Pod.

The initiative was formed four years ago by Lorraine Nugent and Matt Turner who wanted to help young entrepreneurs to grow their business. Lorraine commented “Everyone we meet wants to be part of the project and the uptake and ideas from the young entrepreneurs is terrific. I feel very proud that we are able to showcase the initiative during Global Entrepreneurship Week at the BIS offices in the heart of London, as our aim is to now take the project to a national level.

Tom Williams and James Seear who at just 17 years old won the prize fund in 2010 in the Gatwick Diamond – their business is called Recyclabook whereby they buy and sell used to text books. The pair now operate in 12 University campuses around the UK and are selling their books onto students around the world in 46 different countries.

Sam French of Sam’s Kitchen who took part in the initiative in the Gatwick Diamond region earlier this year makes and sells fashionable gingerbread men. Since winning just six months ago has supplied British Airways, Lingfield Park Race Course, Brighton’s next top model, Tulley’s Farm and the famous shocktoberfest, Town & Country Housing Group, Cripps Harries Hall and other corporates.

Sam comments “It’s a great opportunity for any young person who wants to start a business, even if you just have an idea, come and speak to them, the team will be able to help and point you in the right direction.”

In June of this year Mohamed Abusayed (known as Abu) won the £50,000 in the West Kent region. Abu’s business is called SMT Traded Ltd and is a linen hire company. Abu commented “Since winning the prize fund I have more than doubled my client base. The project has helped me be more confident in talking to customers and has enabled me to grow as I have been able to purchase a much needed new van. I have so far been introduced to business networking and received a laptop and IT support from extech along with some great advice and mentoring sessions from the judges and sponsors.”

The Young Start-up Talent team work in partnership with Town & Country Housing Group (TCHG). Jo Ellis – Operations Director of TCHG said “Most people who strive to succeed are able to network and get on in life whether through family, friends or employment. Working with Young Start-up Talent provides a valuable bridge for TCHG to be able to support local young adults who have aspirations and great ideas and to put the two together.”

Andrew Hookway of extech who has been involved in the project since its inception and donates to the prize fund, a laptop and IT support for 12 months in each area of Young Start-up Talent regions said “We are proud to be supporters of Young Start-up Talent. We have been impressed by the quality of the business ideas and how previous winners have begun to develop their businesses. Today’s young entrepreneurs are tomorrow’s future.”

To find out more about the initiative please visit www.youngstartuptalent.co.uk