The winners were chosen from nearly 200 applicants for funding by a judging panel including a public vote that saw more than 5000 people cast votes. They will use their RBS funding to provide a variety of programmes offering access to training, mentoring and support, skills and knowledge development, and building the skills necessary to start up and survive in business.
One of the winning organisations, Furness Enterprise, will use its grant to engage with nearly 1,000 students from Cumbria. Aged between 14 and 24, they will receive training and support designed to inspire and equip them to become a new generation of young entrepreneurs.
Essential knowledge, skills and qualities
Val Robinson, Funding and New Start Manager at Furness Enterprise said: “We are absolutely delighted to learn that RBS Inspiring Enterprise is supporting our ‘Inspiring a New Generation of Entrepreneurs’ project. The funding will provide activities to support budding, young Cumbrian entrepreneurs with the essential knowledge, skills and qualities to enable them to become more enterprising.”
Another winner is Greater Manchester Youth Network, which provides opportunities for young people and youth organisations working within the Greater Manchester area.
Alex Fairweather, Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Youth Network, said: "RBS Inspiring Enterprise funding enables us to offer support to young people who do not have access to a lot of opportunities in life. Releasing their untapped potential will create a new generation of entrepreneurs.”
The full list of winners is:
- Education Business Partnership West Berks, CULTIVATE - helping young business minds grow! Newbury, West Berkshire
- miEnterprise Herefordshire CIC, It's mi business, Leominster, Hereford-shire
- Hub Islington CIC, HUB Youth Academy, London
- Young Enterprise (South West), Start Something in the South West, Oxford
- Sound Connections, Wired4Music Leadership Programme, London
- Urban Development, Urban Development, Industry Takeover, London
- Furness Enterprise Ltd, Inspiring and Equipping a new generation of 14-24 year old Entrepreneurs, Lindal in Furness, Cumbria
- Greater Manchester Youth Network, Trade Up, Manchester
- Cothrom Ltd, Enterprise on the Edge, Isle of South Uist, Outer Hebrides
- Real Ideas Organisation CIC, Star Shop Enterprise, Plymouth, Devon
Nurturing entrepreneurial talent
Thom Kenrick, Head of Sustainability Programmes, RBS Group said: "As these organisations roll out their programmes, they will help and support thousands of young people right across the UK. RBS is committed to unlocking, supporting and nurturing entrepreneurial talent and we believe these organisations will help us achieve that goal."
“Thanks to everyone who took the time to submit funding applications. Whilst those who didn’t succeed in achieving funding will no doubt be disappointed, we’d encourage you to apply again in the future. Congratulations once again to those successful organisations, and thank you to everyone who took the time to vote in the public voting round.”
RBS Inspiring Youth Enterprise has been designed to encourage young people to explore enterprise, build their skills, start up and succeed in business. RBS is making £500,000 of grants available every year for the next three years, and by the end of 2015 aims to help 100,000 young people to explore enterprise, develop their skills and start up in business, whatever their background.
Find out more about RBS Inspiring Enterprise at inspiringenterprise.rbs.com.
