An inspiring group of young people are setting up businesses in Scotland today - and they need careful investment, expert guidance and a listening ear.
When I first joined the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust as a regional manager in the Scottish Borders, I had just sold my own bar and restaurant business. I took a leap of faith with an organisation I had heard good things about.
More than a decade on, and now working as the charity's Operations Manager, I have gained great insight into what the drivers and the challenges are for young people, as they consider business as an option at such an early stage in their lives.
PSYBT helps young people aged 18-25 to start up in business. It has invested almost £37 million in over 11,000 business, keeping a package of support, including funding and mentoring for young start-ups, at its core.
As we hear so often, from many sources, it is vital that businesses stay close to their customers and for PSYBT it has been no different. Listening has helped us to develop a programme that includes short and long-term financial support, award schemes and networking opportunities, and has proved vital to this inspiring group of young people.
One of the new breed of young entrepreneurs who has been part of the recent evolution of PSYBT is award winning chocolatier Jamie Hutcheon, who runs Cocoa Ooze from his new base in Peterculter near Aberdeen.
Known as “Aberdeen’s very own Willie Wonka” Jamie was first supported by a Market Test Grant - one of the PSYBT innovations of recent years - when he was only 17.
Since those early days in business in 2008 Jamie has had ongoing support from his PSYBT volunteer mentor, he’s been a finalist at the PSYBT Grampian Business Awards, taken part in various profile-raising events, and has recently opened a new shop in Peterculter with further loan funding from PSYBT.
Jamie has grown his business to include workshops, retail and events, retaining the quality of his chocolate as the base for everything else.
I have met Jamie on a few occasions recently and have been struck by the way in which he has not only developed his business but has developed as a person.
Always opportune and outgoing, Jamie has added a measured judgement to his persona.
Success like this does not come from just giving someone the money to start a business, but it can develop with the help of the wrap around support that is such an important ingredient of an organisation like PSYBT!
Looking back over my years working within the enterprise arena I have seen initiatives come and go, reviews being carried out, reports being written, outputs being measured and impacts assessed.
Sometimes, we can be guilty of thinking that the solution has to be something new when what is likely to be most effective is to listen to our customers, innovate where we can while keeping what has given us success at the heart of what we do.
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