Celebrating the Success
The Youth Enterprise Project - YEP started in April 2008 with the aim of providing an innovative, fun and practical programme to encourage and support young people (16-30 years old) in Lambeth to gain the skills and confidence they need to set up their own business.
This year-long programme offered extensive learning and support opportunities in core business skills, soft skills, Level 2 qualifications and 1-2-1 business support.
In the past twelve months YEP has worked with local schools, colleges and youth organisations and has supported more than 120 young people. More than 100 have received up to 18 hours of basic skills; more than 30 have attended Level 2 courses and more than 20 have gained qualifications.
Twenty young people have also received up to 30 hours of one-to-one support. Twelve of them have been awarded test-trading grants between £400 and £900 to help them covering start-up costs such as business registration, purchase of stock or equipment, production of marketing material and so on. Four have already registered as sole traders or have submitted their documentation to Companies House for incorporation.
Here are just some of the feedbacks received:
'I think the programme has made a major difference and has helped me to take action and bring my ideas to life. It has been motivational for me and I hope it carries on.'
'The main strength of this programme is the fact that it is taught by people who are entrepreneurs in their own right.'
'Excellent! Brilliant! Informative! I can use what I have learnt in business and in my personal life'
A big THANK YOU to all of you that have supported the programme and help make it successful but most of all THANK YOU to the young people that have taken part and have made it an exciting, sometimes challenging and very enjoyable experience.
The programme was funded by the London Development Agency and run by Red Ochre in partnership with Live Magazine, YoungBiz, the Brixton Market Traders Federation and with the support of Lambeth Council and the Lambeth Business Support Network and Cross River Partnership.
To know more about what our YEP students are doing now click here.
