Young Start-up Talent celebrates seven years in the Gatwick Diamond

Since its inception, YST has launched across six different regions and has aided the start-up of over 54 businesses.

It was set up to encourage and inspire 16 to 30 year olds who want to set up their own business. Every year it hands out a prize fund worth up to £50k to help the most promising firms in their first year of business.

Bhavna Patel of PDT solicitors said: “I think it’s a fantastic initiative, it allows young talent the opportunity to contribute and add value. This gives young individuals that just need the opportunity to be listened to, heard and invested in, so I think it’s a great concept.”

Sponsors from across the region joined the event to look to the future as well as back on past successes. 2015 winners Juby-Lee Bakes joined the launch and updated sponsors on their year so far since winning the initiative’s prize fund.

Since winning YST, Juby-Lee Bakes has incorporated the company with as a CIC with the help of both Richard Place Dobson and PDT Solicitors, spoken at and exhibited at local events such as Gatwick Diamond Business, Crawley Chamber of Commerce, Manor Royal events, Plumpton College and QEII School - and have recently arranged for their bakes to be in upscale business hotel, Crowne Plaza, Norwegian Airlines at Gatwick Airport, rtainly not be where we are today if were not for the help of Young Start-up Talent.”

The room heard from an array of inspiring speakers, who looked back over their time involved in YST and touched on the effects the initiative has had on both its entrepreneurs and the companies involved.

Speakers included Lauren Vincent from B&CE, and Rob Nunn representing Encore along with founding partners Lorraine Nugent and Matt Turner. Lauren Vincent told the room “B&CE are really proud to be a part of this year’s Young Start-up Talent, we are thrilled to support the fantastic work it’s doing to inspire and help young budding entrepreneurs.

Geoff Williamson from FSB said he loves the notion of ‘giving young people the chance of succeeding in the future’, while speaker Rob Nunn and young entrepreneur and founder of Encore reiterated the promise of young entrepreneurs stating that: “Absolutely nothing is impossible.”

Applications are now open to anyone between 16-30 in the Gatwick Diamond area who want to be part of the mentoring process towards winning a prize fund worth up to £50k to kick start their business.

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