A group of unemployed
youngsters from across Cardiff have taken part in an innovative
project to show them the ropes of running their own businesses.
The ten-strong group took part in a pilot project run by
employment and skills experts Working Links and voluntary youth
sector organisation Rathbone Cymru as part of the UK government's
Work Programme initiative.
The week-long project, entitled The Launch and backed by
Barclays, was designed to showcase the option of self-employment to
the participants, giving them the skills and confidence in
themselves to drive forward busines ideas - and it's been so
popular the initiative could be rolled out across Wales.
The week centred on a project where participants spilt into two
teams, wrote business plans and developed products to sell on the
streets at a profit. To gain the £40 cash to kick-start their
enterprise, the teams presented their ideas to Barclays' Simon
Dews, who also delivered a presentation on enterprise to the young
people. The group also heard from Adam Hussey from The Big Issue
Cymru, who talked them through business models and customer
service.
Throughout the week, the groups looked into various elements of
setting up their own businesses, including marketing, advertising,
product development, negotiation and selling.
Between them, the groups made £136 profit in just three hours
selling Christmas raffle tickets and toiletry gift packs.
Paul Wilson, Partnership Manager at Working Links, said: "The
young people did brilliantly well. If they can come back with such
profits in just a small amount of time, just imagine what they
could do given more time."
Simon Dews, of Barclays, said: "I went back to hear their
results and I was amazed. Between them they'd generated a £136
profit and returned the start-up grants to their Rathbone support
worker - superb."
Callum Barron, 21, of Penarth, was one of the ten young people
to undertake the course. He said: "My target before was just to
open a tattoo shop but it isn't that simple."
He added: "Young people these days don't have a clue about
opening up their own business. They want to, but it's just an idea.
When they grow up they think 'I should have done that. I could have
been someone', but they're stuck and that's what I don't want.
You've got to make something of yourself, and you've got to do it
soon, before it's too late, especially if you've got a good
idea.