Charlie gets help from the Ignite scheme to set up new business

Eighteen-year old Charlie is one of 11,000 college students across Staffordshire have received focused training to set up their own business thanks to a brand-new business initiative.

Over £165,000 has been invested by Staffordshire County Council in the ‘Ignite’ programme; a brand-new scheme to support final-year college students across the county with the  know-how, contacts and confidence they need to set up and be their own boss.

The business-savvy lessons, five-day intensive course and mentoring from business leaders across the county is part of the Staffordshire Means Back to Business support scheme, a £3.4m investment scheme kick-started in the pandemic to support businesses and individuals to not just survive but thrive and grow.  Now more small businesses have been set up in Staffordshire during the last two years than before, with the majority growing faster than those in most other places in the UK.

Charlie, 18, from Newcastle is studying at NSCG Newcastle College and is hoping to set up a new hair saloon like no other.

She said: “This course is about the confidence and the stepping-stones to get where I want to be. 

Before I had only a rough idea what I needed to do.  Now I know exactly what I need to do and so excited to set up.”