NINE aspiring young business owners have been recognised for completing an intensive 12-week entrepreneurship program designed to equip them with the skills, confidence and knowledge needed to transform their ideas into sustainable businesses.
The grand finale of the Launch Pad Youth Entrepreneur Program was held on Thursday 4 June at the Slim Dusty Centre in Kempsey, bringing together participants, mentors, sponsors and community leaders to celebrate the achievements of the young entrepreneurs.
Among those taking part were Nambucca Valley participants Sha-Lohm Jamieson, Lee Collier and Lily Crease, who joined six other young people from across the Mid North Coast in completing the program.
Nambucca Valley Mayor Gary Lee attended the event and said supporting young people to develop business skills aligned closely with the community’s aspirations.
“Our young local entrepreneurs are impressive people and supporting them to learn business skills meets community priority number 10 in the Nambucca Valley Community Strategic Plan – supporting young people to thrive,” he said.
“Our community realises it is challenging for a young person wanting to start a business, so our Council has been doing what it can to support young people through delivering engaging youth events like Open Streets and supporting bespoke programs like this.”
The program was led by Julie Humphris of Business Life Guide, who said the initiative was created to provide both practical business foundations and personal empowerment for young entrepreneurs.
“This project started with the idea to expand on other business programs I had run before, however with the specific goal of providing business foundationals and empowerment to young entrepreneurs,” she said.
Over the course of 12 weeks, participants from the Nambucca Valley, Kempsey and Port Macquarie-Hastings local government areas took part in specialist training covering business financials, bookkeeping, marketing, social media and other essential business skills.
Ms Humphris said the results had exceeded expectations.
“The young entrepreneurs are understanding the ground foundationals of business now. They have a clear direction and their business confidence has grown,” Ms Humphris said.
“They are now confident, well-skilled young entrepreneurs coming out into our areas and into our towns, which will, with time, support our local economies.”
As part of the program, participants also took part in a business pitch event on 14 May, presenting their ideas to business and marketing professionals and receiving valuable feedback to help refine their concepts.
Nambucca Valley Council Manager Economic Development and Tourism Janice Rooney praised both the participants and the collaborative approach that made the project possible.
“I’m grateful to Julie Humphris for applying for the grant to get this program happening to support our local young people to turn their great idea into a sustainable business pathway,” Ms Rooney said.
“It’s been fantastic to be able to work with other project partners on this project, including Chambers of Commerce, community organisations, Kempsey Shire Council and Port Macquarie Hastings Council, with whom we sponsored the project pitch event.”
The Launch Pad Youth Entrepreneur Program was funded primarily through the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation and supported by a range of regional organisations including Nambucca Valley Council, Kempsey Shire Council, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Rotary Club of West Kempsey, Country Universities Centre Macleay Valley, Learning the Macleay and the Macleay Valley Chamber of Commerce.
By Mick BIRTLES
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