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North East?s young people get enterprise help

A vast number of projects and organisations aiming to boost and nurture the entrepreneurial aspirations of youngsters are being created within the North East.

Organisations designed to help inspire and assist talented young people are rising in number in the region, helping to attain the ‘important steps forward in achieving fair and equal chances for all’.

Projects such as the Tynedale Enterprise Network, Enterprise.at and Young Enterprise North East are all playing a role in helping the young people of the region venture into the business world.

Rosie Winterton, local Government Minister, said: “We need to allow talented youngsters, no matter where they live or what their parents do, to fulfil their potential.

“We recognise that young people from poorer communities can be less likely to aim high and can have low self-esteem, low aspirations and limited horizons that act as barriers to success.”

A national project designed to boost entrepreneurial aspirations of youngsters in deprived areas will have a base in South Tyneside, and share in £10 million of Government funding. The ‘Inspiring Communities Partnership’ aims to increase deprived young people’s chances of success in the entrepreneurial and working world.

Tynedale Enterprise Network, another new initiative, is a fund which also supports young people’s ideas.

Tim Pain, Head of Business, Enterprise and Skills at One North East, commented: “The Tynedale Enterprise Network is an excellent example of a project successfully stimulating enterprise, creating enterprising people and supporting private sector-led development.”

The organisation was shortlisted for the Enterprising Britain title, and in 2007 two of the project young members won national recognition for their moving image at the MTV Award and from the Royal Television Society.

Stephen Green, Head of Communications for the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, said: “There are lots of good practices and lots of good initiative around the region – there’s loads happening.

“Many of us have a number of things we’re doing and working on with resources connecting to entrepreneurship and we hope they will be used by young people from all backgrounds.”

Young Enterprise North East (YENE) works with organisations in the business and education sectors to bring practical life experience into the education system. The project consists of tailor made programmes to suit each age range and enable young people to learn through practical experience.

Mr Green added: “We need to get young people talking about what they want to do. Get the youth questioning - What are the barriers? What is stopping children from doing their own thing? Whatever these projects do they need to give the young people a voice.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .