City youths urged to start own businesses

YOUNG people in the Capital struggling to find work were today urged to consider going into business for themselves after a new survey revealed one in five thought finding a job was “unachieveable”.

The Prince’s Trust has launched a campaign on the back of its research which also showed one in three young people had not received any responses to job applications in the past year.

The Evening News revealed last week the number of 18 to 24-year-olds in the city who have been out of work for more than a year had risen by a quarter in just three months.

The Trust’s new campaign, the A-Z of Young Businesses, is encouraging unemployed young people to consider 
self-employment by celebrating success stories from across the UK.

Heather Grey, director of The Prince’s Trust Scotland, said: “Through our Youth Business Scotland programme, young people have the opportunity to explore and test their business ideas and will be fully supported by mentors.

“The start-up funding the Trust offers is a vital investment for our young entrepreneurs and allows them to create opportunities for themselves at a time when unemployment remains a barrier.

“By investing in young people, The Prince’s Trust has a significant role to play in improving economic growth in Scotland by empowering young people to fulfil their potential.”

In early 2012, The Prince’s Trust Scotland merged with its sister charity, The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT), specialists in business start-up.

Ms Grey added: “The Prince’s Trust is committed to ensuring young people receive the right support to help them move forward into education, training, employment and self-employment.”

The Youth Business Scotland programme will support more than 1000 young people as they explore the idea of setting up a business.

But Edinburgh East Labour MP and work and pensions select committee member Sheila Gilmour urged caution.

“It’s great to give people this opportunity and the Prince’s Trust do a great job, but let’s not pretend that this will resolve what is a major problem for young people.

“Many young people will not have the experience to run their own business, it’s not easy to be self-employed and a lot of small businesses do fail.”

The research by the Trust and RBS found almost half of young people in Scotland (49 per cent) think finding a job is harder than this time last year, while more than two-fifths (45 per cent) feel disposable in their current job.

In April, the News revealed 300 people aged between 18 and 24 had been claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) for at least 12 months, but by this July this had risen to 375.

Artist Amy has Ziggy’s brand

AMY Dolan, a 21-year-old arts graduate from Lasswade, has her own furniture redesign business, Ziggy Sawdust, set up with the help of the Prince’s Trust.

Amy, who studied at Glasgow School of Art, could only find part-time work and decided that setting up her own business would be the way ahead. She approached Youth Business Scotland, part of the Prince’s Trust, for a business plan.

In April, this year she received a £1250 loan and was assigned a mentor who is helping her to establish her business, which specialises in updating items of furniture from the 1950s – 1970s but retaining a retro twist. Although it is early days, Amy is growing her business and has two commissions lined up.