The Enterprise Programme in the South West

The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme supports unemployed young people aged 18-30 to work out if their business idea is viable and whether self employment is right for them.

What support do you offer?

EnterpriseThe first element of the Enterprise Programme is the Explore Enterprise Course, a four day workshop for young people to learn about topics relevant to planning and running a business and to consider whether self employment is right for them. It is designed to be practical, interactive, visual and based around discussions and activities. The course aims to help young people understand what self-employment would involve and enables them to apply this to their business idea.

Following attendance on the four day Explore Enterprise Course young people are then offer support to help them decide whether starting a business is right for them. If it is the right option, they are offered business mentoring and support in writing a business plan. There is also the potential of funding to get started. If young people decide that starting a business isn’t for them, we offer mentoring to help secure a positive alternative, such as employment, education, training or voluntary work.

Is it for me?Enterprise

The Enterprise Programme is for people who:

  • have a business idea they want help to explore
  • are aged 18-30
  • are unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week
  • live in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland

I’m interested – what next?

Submit your details using our online form and a member of your local team will get in touch. You will be invited to attend an Information Session to find out more about the Enterprise Programme in your area. Once you have been to an Information Session, you will then have the option of applying for a place on an Explore Enterprise Course.

What help could I get?

  • Advice on employment options
  • Business skills training
  • Business planning support
  • Start-up loan funding
  • Ongoing support from a volunteer business mentor
  • Access to specialist support, including our free legal helpline supported by DLA Piper
  • And, if you start a business, access to a wide range of free and discounted products and services.

Note: Participation in the Enterprise Programme does not guarantee that start-up funding will be awarded. Applications for start-up funding are assessed in relation to a number of factors including perceived risk, business viability and individual need.

Online Support

We’ve put together materials to help you find out more about starting a business. These include a set of 12 guides and a business plan pack. You can access these now for free.

Note – you don’t need to have completed a business plan before applying to the Enterprise Programme. This is something that you receive one to one support with once you have attended the Explore Enterprise Course.

If you aren’t eligible for the Enterprise Programme here's what's on offer from other organisations.

  South West map

Explore Enterprise courses in the South West

If you are aged 18-30, unemployed and have a business idea that you would like to explore please contact us through our online enquiry form.

The first stage will be to attend one of our information sessions to find out whether the four day explore enterprise course is the right route for you.

Once you have attended an information session, you are then able to reserve a place on one of the Explore Enterprise courses.