Event backs business leaders of tomorrow

A new enterprise initiative has given young people in North Tyneside the opportunity to develop business skills and explore entrepreneurship with support from experienced business leaders.

The Future Founders event, organised by North Tyneside Business Forum CIC, brought together 24 participants aged between 15 and 21 for a day of mentoring, workshops and business challenges at Salt Market Social in North Shields.

Supported by Working Well North Tyneside, the programme aimed to build confidence, improve employability skills and encourage young people to consider starting a business in the future.

The event was developed by North Tyneside Business Forum chair Angela Tuplin and vice chair Christopher Wilson, who designed the programme to give participants practical insight into the realities of running a business.

Instead of classroom-based learning, attendees heard from keynote speakers Jamilah Hassan, community relations manager at Banks Group and founder of JH Property Connect, and Laura Middleton, founder and managing director of Bump Talent & Bump, who shared their experiences of building businesses, overcoming setbacks and spotting opportunities.

Throughout the day, mentors from businesses across the region led interactive workshops covering topics including marketing, branding, communications, finance, business development and customer engagement.

In the afternoon, participants were divided into teams for the Future Founders Challenge, where each group was presented with a surprise business scenario contained in a ‘Golden Envelope’.

Working alongside a mentor, they developed a business idea before pitching it to a judging panel.

Organisers said the challenge was designed to encourage creativity, teamwork, communication and problem-solving, rather than simply finding the strongest business idea.

Angela Tuplin, chair of North Tyneside Business Forum, said: “Future Founders was created to give young people the opportunity to learn directly from people who have built businesses and experienced both success and setbacks. 

“We wanted them to discover that there isn’t just one route into business and that resilience, creativity and confidence are just as important as having a great idea.

“The enthusiasm shown by every participant was inspiring and we’re incredibly grateful to the mentors and speakers who gave up their time to support the next generation.”

Each participant received a Future Founders Certificate of Achievement and information about further opportunities available through North Tyneside Business Forum and its partners.

Christopher Wilson, vice chair of the North Tyneside Business Forum, added: “One of the biggest strengths of the day was bringing together experienced business people and young people in an informal environment where they could have honest conversations, ask questions and explore ideas without fear of getting things wrong.

“The quality of the presentations demonstrated just how much potential there is among young people when they’re given encouragement and the opportunity to develop their ideas.”

The forum, which supports businesses through networking, events and business development opportunities, hopes Future Founders will become a regular feature of its programme as it continues to encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs across the borough.

Businesses with a trading address in North Tyneside can join the forum free of charge. 

More information is available at www.northtynesidebusinessforum.org.uk or by emailing business.forum@northtyneside.gov.uk. 

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