Young people from across Birmingham, the West Bromwich and Cardiff recently pitched their business ideas as part of Serco’s ‘Dragon’s Den style’ initiative, a community programme designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality.
Led by Suki Gill, Social Value Lead for the Restart Scheme, the initiative was open to all young people aged 18 to 29 from local communities and not limited to Restart Scheme participants. The aim is to give young entrepreneurs a platform to develop their ideas, build confidence and access support from experienced self-employment coaches.
Serco hosted the events at its Restart Scheme offices in Birmingham, West Bromwich and Cardiff, bringing together young people with ambitions spanning a wide range of industries and business sectors.
More than a competition, the initiative is about investing in local communities and helping young people explore self-employment as a realistic and achievable option. Participants presented their ideas to a panel and received constructive feedback to help them develop their plans further.
Winners receive funding from Serco to support the next stage of their business journey, while all participants continue to be offered guidance from Restart Scheme self-employment coaches to help them build their skills, confidence and business knowledge.
Reflecting on the Cardiff event, Suki Gill said:
“I was truly inspired by the creativity, passion and ambition shown by the candidates. Every participant presented their ideas with professionalism, confidence and purpose, making the standard exceptionally high. The winning idea, centred on sharing social value stories through social media, has the potential to celebrate the incredible work of local organisations, raise awareness and create a lasting positive impact across the local communities we work in.”
By providing funding, advice and ongoing support, the Dragons’ Den initiative is helping young people take practical steps towards self-employment, while supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs across Birmingham, the Black Country and Wales.
Watch the video here: https://youtube.com/shorts/oml1eMKHHQs?si=IeFrgWGtfA6bYM3z
