Make your ideas count!

Wales’ First Minister, Carwyn Jones, today (Monday) launched an ambitious challenge at the National Eisteddfod to attract and fast-track more young people from Montgomeryshire into starting their own businesses.

16 to 24-year-olds will be targeted and encouraged to apply for a place on the third Big Ideas Wales Challenge, one of the largest campaigns of its kind driven by the Welsh Government as part of its Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy.

Mr Jones launched the Challenge at the National Eisteddfod being held at Meifod.

“Wales is a nation of entrepreneurs. Our communities are home to businesses small and large established by people who had that initial big idea and had the confidence to make it into a success,” said Carwyn Jones.

“We can build on that by encouraging our young people to realise their potential – a potential they might not have considered as a business opportunity. With the right mentoring and inspiration their future can be transformed and the Big Ideas Wales Challenge is an opportunity to do just that.

Young people who have started a business or are committed to starting one in the next six months can apply for the 12-month Challenge, now in its third year. They can be employed, unemployed, in education or training.

Applications for the Challenge close on 5th October. The bootcamp will take place between 13-15 November in the run up to Global Entrepreneurship Week (16-22 November) and the board meetings will begin in December.

The Challenge (www.BigIdeasWales.com) includes an intense weekend business bootcamp where participants will be inspired and challenged by successful entrepreneurs, followed by regular board meetings to help guide them for the 12 months.

They will also have access to business support through Business Wales and partner organisations; network with other young entrepreneurs; get coaching and challenged on their business at all stages and launch and grow their business.

Young people often have great business ideas but can often feel their age and inexperience is against them.

The Challenge aims to overcome this by providing an introduction to and mentoring from established entrepreneurs who develop their confidence and skills from which to launch and grow their business.

The Big Ideas Wales Challenge is part of the Welsh Government’s Business Wales service and delivers on the Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy (YES). The Big Ideas Wales campaign is part funded by the European Regional Development fund to encourage young people to be more entrepreneurial and help those interested in starting a business take their ideas forward.

In addition to Big Ideas Role Models providing mentoring, a group of Young Ambassadors made up of past Challenge participants are also promoting entrepreneurship to other young people.

Carwyn Owen from Foel, near Welshpool, Powys who has designed and built the Chair for this year’s National Eisteddfod, said he would be applying for the Challenge.

Aged 20 and the youngest person to create a Chair for the Eisteddfod, he is still in university and has set up his own carpentry and furniture design business from home.

“I’ll be applying and hoping to get through the audition to be part of the next Challenge. I’ve heard so much about how it’s helped past Challenge members and I believe the advice and mentoring will be just what I need to help develop and grow my own business,” he said at the launch.

Ed Shorney from South Wales set up his own apprentice and business matchmaking business – GoRookie - and took part in last year’s Challenge.

He said: “The Challenge was inspiring. From the advice from the entrepreneurs throughout the process to being with other youngsters in a similar position to me and being able to talk and share about our experiences was also invaluable.

“My business continues to grow and I’m using the experience of the Challenge to my best advantage. I’m also pleased to be a Big Ideas Wales Ambassador, helping other young people realise how an idea really can take you in a different career direction.”