Teen duo win entrepreneur competition
T WO Mirfield teenagers have been named winners of a nationwide competition to find the UK’s most promising young entrepreneurs.
Joe Taylor and Elliott Rayne, both 19, beat other finalists in their 19-22 age group to win the Next Generation Awards 2019 with their events business EJ Events.
The new annual set of awards are run by small business support network Enterprise Nation in conjunction with youth enterprise charity The Enterprise Trust and leading challenger bank, TSB, with the aim of specifically shining a spotlight on the UK’s game-changing young entrepreneurial talent.
The pair won a support package worth £7,500 to include £2,500 in cash and a year of mentoring from TSB’s Business Banking Executive Team.
Elliott said: “Myself and Joe are over the moon to win this award, it makes the long days and nights worth it.
Going forward, we are proud to be running the annual Tour De Yorkshire Cookridge Fanzone event, expecting around upwards of 2,000 people throughout the day.
“We are also working with one of Huddersfield’s biggest nightclubs to bring something completely new for students. Winning this accolade will really help the business move forward. It’s great that initiatives like this can help young entrepreneurs. Being mentored by the TSB will help give our business a true sense of direction.”
The pair set up events company EJ Events in October last year and have already seen their first event sell-out.
In order to win, Elliott and Joe had to get through an initial selection and then be put to the public vote, followed by a Dragon’s Den-style pitch to judges in London.
Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, said: “We love Joe and Elliott’s determination and enthusiasm. Their fresh approach and, in particular, their focus on social media stands them apart from their competitors.
“They are worthy winners and we look forward to watching their business boom.”
Helen Booth, CEO of York-based Enterprise Trust, who sat on the judging panel, said: “These lads are going to make this business fly just because of their enthusiasm and energy for the business and undoubted commitment to make it a success.
“As judges, we also felt there is a big opportunity for the duo to make money in the business and that their branding was good.
“As part of their mentoring, we recommended the pair should spend some time developing their USP further so that people will recognise and associate EJ Events with a good experience.” RECOVERING addict who has previously been homeless has been helped into work at the John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield.
Sean Swindells landed a job with catering contractor Kudos thanks to support from a charity established by Cleckheaton-based HR and employment law firm, Howarths.
Sean got the job as a kitchen porter through The Howarth Foundation after he was introduced to the charity by Leeds-based Growing Rooms.
Natalie Wells, client development manager at The Howarth Foundation, said: “Sean is now eight months clean and following a recovery programme based in Halifax called Alpha.
“He has shown great dedication to his recovery, completing a work skills course via Blueapple Training in Leeds and progressing to customer service and retail qualifications.
“Additionally, he volunteers in a café every week, where he has developed a passion for the catering industry.
“The Howarth Foundation has now stepped in to help him secure paid work in this sector through our Business Building Futures – Street2Feet programme.”
Andy Howarth, chairman at The Howarth Foundation, said:
“Our programme sees us working with a host of partner businesses across Leeds and Kirklees to provide skills training, work experience and employment opportunities to individuals who have been identified as ready to re-enter full or part-time employment following a period of homelessness.
“Securing paid work or skills training is vitally important to recovering addicts, as it helps them move away from benefits, start contributing to society once again and develop a new sense of selfworth.”
Speaking about his new role, Sean said: “The Howarth Foundation has made me feel valued again and given me the confidence and hope to help turn my life around.
“Without Andy and Natalie’s help, I wouldn’t have had the chance of such an amazing opportunity to get my foot on the employment ladder and start a career doing something I have a passion for.”
Businesses interested in finding out more about supporting The Howarth Foundation are being encouraged to attend its complementary Business Building Futures networking event at the John Smith’s Stadium at 4pm on Thursday, April 25.