February 23, 2012 2.22 pm This story is over 145 months old

Cash boost for local young entrepreneurs

Fresh businesses: Teens are being encouraged to set up businesses with the help of a bursary and workshops.

Teenagers in Lincolnshire and Rutland with business ideas are being awarded a bursary and advice to get started up.

The bursaries are being awarded by Lincolnshire & Rutland Education Business Partnership, under the Brilliant Lincolnshire Young Traders initiative, which aims to encourage teens to consider working for themselves.

The first three bursaries, worth £200, have been awarded to Aimee Morley and Karmen Goodwin from Lincoln, and Natalie Coe (pictured) from Spilsby.

Morely and Goodwin will be using the funding to develop their own photography business, focusing on special events such as proms, while Coe will be using the money for her catering business, Catering for Your Occasion.

Natalie said: “I am really pleased about the bursary. It is giving me a really good start.

“I am putting the money towards hot food transportation boxes and a pair of electric scales. This will also help my cash-flow.”

As well as the bursary, the young entrepreneurs were invited along to Enterprise @ Lincoln‘s free business workshops for the self-employed.

Andy Harsley of Rapstrap, which appeared successfully on Dragons Den, plus Chris Vaughan of Chris Vaughan Photography also attended the session to support the three teens.

Workshops at Enterprise range from book-keeping basics and presentation skills, to using social media and search engine optimisation (SEO).

Various business mentors are also available to help people get started effectively in business.

Anyone interested in starting their own business can contact Enterprise @ Lincoln for information and advice on 01522 837200.