Youth enterprise road show makes North East debut

A national road show is set to arrive in the region to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs with expert advice and guidance.

The North East leg of the Youth Enterprise Nation tour is sponsored by Gateshead College and will hit St James’s Park on Friday 19 April.

Aimed at young people aged between 16-30, it is the latest milestone for Gateshead College in its move towards becoming one of a new generation of colleges using entrepreneurial principles.

Visitors will learn from the college about the courses and training it provides, with a staff team offering career advice and information about apprenticeships.

A group of college students will also be showcasing the entrepreneurial skills, including a team taking part in the ‘Pantrepreneur Challenge.’

The challenge is a national competition, led by founder of Fairtrade underwear brand Pants to Poverty, Ben Ramsden and sees budding entrepreneurs generating underwear sales to win a trip to India to see the production process in action.

Gateshead College’s entrepreneurial activity manager Vicki Hodgson said: “Involvement as sponsors in the Youth Enterprise Nation provides a great opportunity to meet our prospective students and showcase how the college can help them to achieve their goals and get ahead in business and commerce.

“The event also gives our current students unique access to respected business people who can offer invaluable advice and guidance.”

Another organisation sponsoring and supporting the North East leg of the tour is Rockstar Youth, one of the key delivery partners for the government’s Start-Up Loan programme.

Visitors will be able to apply for a start up loan for their business underwritten by the government through their programme to assist young people starting out in business and receive free support and mentoring through the Rockstar Network.

The Youth Enterprise national tour is designed to give students a more enterprising mindset and provide them with the skills, aptitude and enthusiasm to succeed in the workplace.

The initiative, founded by Ryan Angelinetta, Ketan Makwana and Stephen Farrow of Mass Appeal Media, was launched last year at Earls Court in London to support moves by several colleges across the UK becoming more entrepreneurial focused .

Gateshead College is the only North East college which is part of the Gazelle Global group of colleges.

Newcastle is the second stop on a tour that will be visiting Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Belfast, Coventry, Northamptonshire, Norwich, Kent, Guildford, Cardiff and Brighton over the next few weeks.

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