Is it for people like me?

The Business Programme is for people who are:

• aged 18-30
• unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week
• living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland

If you are all of these things, click on the link below for more information.
The Prince’s Trust: Business Programme

“BBV Ltd, established in 1983, provides financial, technical and management assistance to help local people start, run and grow their businesses creating wealth and employment.

“With a portfolio of business loans, managed workshops and serviced office centres which provide incubator space for new and growing businesses, and a team of professional business advisers, the Enterprise Agency provides high quality relevant and valued business support services.

“Over the years we have helped hundreds of people realise their full potential to start and run their own business through a variety of innovative programmes.”

If you’re in South East Lancashire and need business counselling, mentorship, or other business support, this is well worth a look.

For more information see:
http://www.bbvonline.net/

In addition to traditional workshops and seminars, specific sessions covering issues affecting potential and existing women entrepreneurs are offered, with ongoing mentoring and networking opportunities.

The project provides a flexible learning programme and offers training, employability development, business start-up support and advice to all women – those already running their own business, thinking of setting up in business, returning to work, undergraduates and graduates.

For more information see:
http://www.wise4women.co.uk/

Around one in five young people in the UK are not in work, education or training. Youth unemployment costs the UK economy £10 million a day in lost productivity, while youth crime costs £1 billion every year.

The Trust addresses this by giving practical and financial support to the young people who need it most. They help develop key skills, confidence and motivation, enabling young people to move into work, education or training.

The Trust supported 37,900 young people last year. Of those, 73% moved into work, education or training.

They have lots of programmes suited to different needs. If you’re between 14 and 30 and need a hand with education, retraining, or finding an interesting job, the Prince’s Trust is well worth a look. (They even offer funding and support for those wanting to start their own business.)

For more information see:
http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/

The courses are offered one afternoon/evening per week for a minimum of 10 weeks. The courses commence with 5 weeks of Management training. You will work towards the Level 4 Award in Management certified by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). The following 5 weeks offer training towards a recognised technical certification e.g. Microsoft, Cisco, CIW or Dreamweaver.

Courses are delivered throughout the year in venues across Scotland including Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Forth Valley, Aberdeen, Borders, Edinburgh and Dumfries & Galloway.

Visit their website for more information:
http://www.eskillsacademy.com/default.asp

Organised as a business plan competition, the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards involve two phases: the selection of the fifteen Finalists, three per continent, based on the executive summaries of their projects and the selection of the five Laureates, one per continent, based on their detailed business plans.

Each Laureate receives a US$ 20,000 grant and coaching support for a full year by McKinsey consultants, Cartier managers and INSEAD alumni.

The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards welcome applications from enterprising women worldwide until 15 February 2008.

Find out more about how to apply here:

http://www.cartierwomensinitiative.org/wiapub/register