Boosting teen enterprise

This week saw the launch of TeenBiz a new enterprise programme for 13-18 year olds with great business ideas. Fronted by ex-Apprentice finalist, Claire Young, it’s an innovative enterprise awards programme which provides successful applicants with a £500 grant alongside a ‘start-up’ pack comprising a website, company stationery and official Companies House formation.

Claire explains the thinking behind Teenbiz:  “You can become a Company Director at 16 years old, but a person under 18 has no way to access start-up funding. We need to lead from the front and create enterprise schemes that are sustainable.  Plenty of people are talking about enterprise and doing nothing, I’d rather put my money where my mouth is and make something happen.”

There are already a plethora of enterprise initiatives focusing on young adults, so it’s refreshing to see TeenBiz engaging a younger audience. And if our experience at vinspired is anything to go by, it’s clear that introducing young people to volunteering – and potentially enterprise – at a much younger age, has the potential to reap rewards for the economy and society.

vinspired is a proud TeenBiz sponsor, investing in three TeenBiz awards. Terry Ryall, Chief Executive of vinspired said: ‘We have always advocated the enormous, untapped potential of young people to change their communities for the better, and we hope that our investment in TeenBiz will inspire some enterprising business ideas for social good.’

For more details, visit www.teenbiz.org.uk