Loan scheme for young entrepreneurs – will it work?

So this week the government announced plans to provide loans to young entrepreneurs aged 18-24 and my initial thoughts were; this is great, about time! But after thinking about it I am not 100% they will work.

The key points of the scheme are:

• £82 million will be lent to young entrepreneurs over the next 3 years with the average loan an estimated of £2,500 for those with a strong business plan

• Ministers believe more than 30,000 young people could benefit by 2014-15.

• The loans will be administered by organisations like Princes Trust & entrepreneur James Caan will chair the body which oversees the allocation of loans

• The loan can be for up to 5 years at RPI + 3% and the young entrepreneurs will also receive help and training to develop their businesses

When the scheme was launched David Cameron said "I want this to be the year where people can think: yes, I can do it, that we can get as many viable businesses as possible off the ground, that people can have a go"

Now it all seems great on the surface, helping the millions of young people out of work create their own jobs by starting their own businesses, but are young people today really equipped to deal with the mammoth task of setting up on their own?

Can we really expect young people to be inspired to start their own business when all they hear is the doom and gloom about their future and all they see around them is shops and businesses closing or shutting down?

How are they going to engage the young people like those involved in last year’s riots when youth services are being cut across the country? Are the government not giving with one hand only to take away with the other?

There are so many questions to be answered, and only time will tell if these loans will work. But, they could be an amazing opportunity for young people to build a different future for themselves and those around them, only if the infrastructure is in place to support them though and it is consistent, and with ever changing government policies and u-turns on decisions will this happen?

 

**NEWS FLASH** Essential Social Enterprises awarded Social Enterprise Mark!

It has been an amazing few months for Jill & Jasmine Cunningham! They have successfully launched 

two websites, two blogs, a social media campaign and started collaborating with various 

partners across the country in their quest to rebuild communities and make them more sustainable.

Today they received the very exciting news that they have been awarded the Social Enterprise mark! 

To achieve this fantastic recognition of the work they are doing, they have had to fulfill the strict

qualifying criteria set by Social Enterprise Mark who are the awarding body. The mark is the 

only international certification for social enterprise so it carries some real weight within the social 

enterprise movement.

Essential Social Enterprises are now excited to be among the other 400 mark holders and are looking 

forward to what the next few months will bring!

If you would like to know more about Essential Social Enterprise please contact Jill & Jasmine on  

0800 689 9382 or email info@essentialsocialenterprises.org

                                                                  

The case for collaboration!

Having just sat & watched this talk by Rachel Botsman (if you get time I really recommend you take the time to have a listen to what she has to say!) it really got me thinking!

 

Collaborative consumption & working is not some idealistic way to be anymore, with technology moving at the pace it is and the world economy in the state that it is in, there is no better or more urgent time for it to happen.

All of the projects we are working on at Essential involve collaborations in so many various ways. We believe whole heatedly in supporting communities and our aim is to work with as many local people, companies and service providers to create new inspiring hubs. We hope these will not only promote community cohesion but support people back into work either by helping them start their own businesses or giving them valuable work experience to add to their CV’s. There are also our community allotment schemes which are proving hugely successful, the list of opportunities is endless!

The time is now to make a change and we all have to play our part! If you would like to find out more about any of our initiatives and how you could get involved please take a look at our shiny new website :o) http://www.essentialsocialenterprises.org/

Essential Social Enterprises Website Now Live!

Following on from the successful launch of their Essential Care4Children website in March, Jill and Jasmine Wood are now pleased to announce the next website launch for their ever growing Social Enterprise company; Essential Social Enterprises www.essentialsocialenterprises.org

Founded by the two cousins in 2011, Essential Social Enterprises is a community interest company with smaller multi layered social enterprises within the group. Their aim is to provide diverse, specialised and inclusive projects and initiatives throughout the UK. Our vision is to offer and develop our range of services at strategic points around the country to benefit all members of the community.

Jill and Jasmine’s vision is to rebuild communities, especially in some of the most deprived and disadvantaged areas across the UK.  They have explicit social and environmental aims and this motivates them to develop their projects that will allow individuals to stand on their own two feet, stand tall and be able to live a full and enjoyable lifestyle.

Essential Social Enterprises current projects and initiatives are being developed to make a real difference for families, young members of local communities and senior generations. It is with these contributors views and participation in the services provided, which is the key to making communities a more sustainable and pleasant place to live.  The website will evolve as the current and new initiatives grow and will include reviews, pictures and regular updates, news and interactive community involvement.

Some of Essential Social Enterprises current initiatives include:

• Developing a network of Community & Youth Hubs scattered around the UK within urban and rural communities, delivering a diverse range of services in collaboration with each communities needs

• Community Allotments and Gardens, initiatives to grow local food, provide fruit and veg box schemes for local schools and community groups

• Community Enterprise Markets, a place where local artisans who provide homemade and handmade crafts and produce can showcase their products through workshops and sales space

• Youth Enterprise in association with our Hubs, programs will be delivered that will both engage and encourage our Young people to have the vision and skills to start their own micro business, coop or small enterprise

• Enterprise for All – Providing supported meaningful employment  to volunteers including young people and adults with learning difficulties and those from disadvantaged circumstances the opportunities to gain employment and work experience within one of our enterprises

If you would like to know more about Essential Social Enterprise please contact Jill & Jasmine on 0800 689 9382 or email info@essentialsocialenterprises.org