Frank Colzie
Frank, 30, from Bristol, was unemployed
for two-and-a-half years before getting help from The Prince’s
Trust to turn his childhood hobby into a successful
business. Frank is now selling new and re-conditioned
bicycles in Bristol.
After losing his job, Frank found that the longer he was
unemployed, the harder it was to find work. After countless
rejections, he started to suffer from depression, insomnia and
anxiety.
Throughout this difficult period, Frank always maintained a
passion for bicycles. He was a keen cyclist and enjoyed fixing
bikes as an activity to give him something to do while he was
unemployed.
He approached The Prince’s Trust after his mother suggested
turning his hobby for bikes into a business. The youth charity runs
an Explore Enterprise course which provides practical advice and
mentoring support to give unemployed young people the skills and
confidence they need to set up a business.
As part of the course Frank applied for a "Will it Work Grant"
which enables candidates to try out their business idea. Frank was
awarded a £250 grant to source second hand bikes to refurbish and
re-sell on Gumtree. He made £740 profit and used the money to take
a City & Guilds course in Advanced Bike Mechanics at the Cycle
Systems Academy in London.
He then received further start-up funding to enable him to take
on a shop front on Redcliffe Hill in Bristol. He also received
mentoring support through The Prince’s Trust from an experienced
business professional in Bristol, who helped him with the essential
details of setting up a business.
Eventually, Frank would like to train other fellow bike
enthusiasts and take on full-time staff.
He said:
I would never have been able to set up my
business without the help of The Prince’s Trust. I am really
pleased with the success of Re-Cycle Bristol and I hope to see the
business grow in the future.
Champions
We would like to acknowledge the individuals or organisations
who have played a key role in helping this young person achieve
success through their Prince’s Trust programme.
- Adam Gallimore, Business Mentor
- James Savage, Business Mentor
- Terri Davey, The Prince’s Trust