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A NEW initiative has been launched to support entrepreneurship in schools across the north following the shock decision by the Department of Education in June to slash Young Enterprise NI’s entire funding of £550,000, leaving the education charity in a perilous state.
And as the new school term begins, YENI has just launched a new campaign aimed directly at businesses, seeking their support for young entrepreneurs of the future.
The charity’s Business Backers campaign has already had more than 60 businesses pledge to ensure young people can access its school-based business programmes.
But YENI insists much more support is needed to plug the gap and reach its target of 100,000 young people who want to get involved this year.
Its chief executive Carol Fitzsimons said: “When we announced that government funding for our programmes was ceasing, we had a significant number of local businesses reach out to offer their support.
“That DE funding supported 47,000 young people in areas of greatest social need, and no one wants to see them miss out on the opportunity to develop vital skills.
“So in response, we developed this new Business Backers campaign to provide opportunities for large and small businesses to help.
“Our Business Backers invest in five, 10, 25, 50 or 100 future entrepreneurs each month, while benefitting from volunteering and networking opportunities for their employees and demonstrating their corporate responsibility and ESG commitments.”
Aimée Clint is a Young Enterprise alumna and ambassador, whose entrepreneurial endeavours were recognised in US President Joe Biden’s speech in Belfast earlier this year.
She said: “Young Enterprise enabled me to launch my business, Books by Stellas, with my school classmates in 2017. Now I continue to operate our social enterprise, creating children’s books to educate neurotypical children on autism.
“As an ambassador for the charity I see many talented future entrepreneurs first-hand and realise without the support of our business community Young Enterprise simply will not be able to provide them with the same opportunities I had.
“I would like to thank all of the companies who have pledged so far and encourage all companies in Northern Ireland to follow their lead.”
Rachel McMillan is general manager of Clockwise Offices in Belfast, one of the charity’s new Business Backers.
She said: “Becoming a Business Backer was an easy decision for Clockwise Offices. We’ve seen the benefits of what Young Enterprise brings to future entrepreneurs and what their volunteering opportunities have brought to me personally.
“The confidence and enthusiasm that we see from these young people sets them up for a successful future and we are delighted to continue to play a role in that.”
:: Young Enterprise has been educating and inspiring future entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland for over 30 years. Find out more about the Business Backers campaign at www.yeni.co.uk/business-backers or contact jan.donaldson@yeni.co.uk
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