Ending Exclusion Through Entrepreneurship

EiA was one of 22 successful bids of 440 applications for funding under a Gordon Brown initiative for this innovative entrepreneurial programme.

There has been increasing concern and focus by both government and local authorities about effective engagement strategies of young people from the NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) group. ‘Ending Exclusion Through Entrepreneurship’ was developed by EiA, and engaged a group of young people from the Southwark area of South London over 12 weeks. The EiA led coalition was funded by the Department of Trade and Industry to work with young adults aged 16-25 at risk of exclusion to develop and put into practice their business ideas. The project aimed to legitimise business concepts that the young people had to encourage them to be law abiding, value adding members of the economy.

Students were encouraged to follow up the opportunity!

One student’s media business won a contract to film a regional Duke of Edinburgh concert. Two students show effective networking - after pitching their business idea to a DJ from a London based radio station owned by Capital Radio they were invited to join the DJ on prime time breakfast radio and pitch their business to London.

They also took the opportunity to make contact with Ms Dynamite and MOBO founder Kanya King. As a result of the work on the programme, the young adults received a nationally recognised qualification (The Life Skills Duke of Edinburgh Award, Bronze Level) and earned the right to present to one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs from the music business.