Thousands of students benefit from £165k county council grant

OVER 11,000 college students across Staffordshire have received focused training to set up their own business thanks to a brandnew business initiative.

More than £165,000 has been invested by Staffordshire County Council in the Ignite programme; a brgarngdr new scheme to support final-year college students across the county with the know-how, contacts and confidence they need to set up and be their own boss.

The business-savvy lessons, five-day intensive course and mentoring from business leaders across the county is part of the Staffordshire Means Back to Business support scheme, a £3.4m investment scheme kickstarted in the pandemic to support businesses and individuals to not just survive but thrive and grow. Now more small businesses have been set up in Staffordshire during the last two years than before, with the majority growing faster than those in most other places in the UK.

Tom Nadin, Head of Project and Business Services at the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce leads the delivery of the Ignite programme on behalf of the county council.

Tom said: “More than ever before young people have the opportunities and great ideas to set up a strong and viable business and in turn help others into great jobs and careers. This programme is about developing entrepreneurial thinking, alongside their existing studies, which could open up an additional career path when leaving further education.

It’s about choices and inspiration, with so many young people so ready to start out on their own.

“The digital opportunities of the day and the wider business support available through partners including the county council, the world really is theirs for the taking. Even though the scheme is fairly new, over 700 young people have already signed up for the more intensive course which is exciting.”

The Ignite scheme is running across Newcastle & Stafford College’s Group, South Staffordshire College, Burton & South Derbyshire College and Buxton & Leek College until August 2023.

More information on the Ignite scheme is available at www. staffordshire.gov.uk/ignite