MC4C Case Studies

Supporting young people in Hull to develop their enterprising ideas through a series of enterprising activities & business support

Case Studies 2016 - 2020

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A word from our Patron

“

The modern business environment faces ever new challenges.

It is hard enough these days when you already have an established business but when you’re starting out, you need all the help you can get.

As Patron of Making Changes For Careers, I am proud to see the support given to the enterprising youth of Hull by the dedicated and hard-working team who work tirelessly to assist and promote the young women and men who pass through their doors.

MC4C aims to provide you with the skills and knowledge that you will need, and give you access to finance and grants, training, market research, networking and financial literacy to

“

enable you to succeed on your entrepreneurial journey.

Adam Corbally Motivational Speaker and MC4C Patron

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About the Programme The Making Changes for Careers programme is an exciting enterprise programme aimed at young people aged 16-29 who are not in employment, education or training who would like to start their own business.

The programme gives young people the opportunity to find out more about the ‘Big 13’ Enterprise Skills, as well as having the chance to access grants from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank in order to develop their business ideas.

Young people will also have the opportunity to access an experienced business mentor who will be on hand to offer expert advice and guidance.

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Contents A word from our Patron

2

E & T Photography

19

Toni Alden About the Programme

3 KES-Tech Electrical Services

Contents

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Danny Kerswill

Meet the Team

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Cloie Couture & CFG

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Cloie Hockney Melting Moments Hull

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and Robin Coates

Charlene Genter Picturesque Photography Bad Wolf Gaming

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22

Leigh Williamson

Ash Tyson Hair by Emilly Prehistoric Hull

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23

Emilly Campbell

Ben Robinson Arthur & The Honey Bee Gray’s Boutique

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24

Jennifer Gregory

Becca Pettman CJE’s Creations

and Beth Shepherdson

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Courtney Exelby Russell’s Emporium

10 Free Yourself

Laura Russell

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Laura Suter Amethyst Cleaning

11 Elisha’s Bakery

Leah Marie Ariss

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Elisha Foyston The Classical Matt

12 Bohemian Photography

Matthew Bunting

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Jennifer Cunningham Life and Loom

13 The Plaster Master Hull

Fynn Hopper

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Ashley Millar Sophie Raven Stylist

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Sophie Raven Lottie & Bows

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The BIG 13

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The Skills Passport

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Useful Links

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Aliesha Nelson Danny’s Hairdressing

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Danny Gleadhill

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Meet the team...

The MC4C team is made up of two Youth Enterprise Advisors, a Youth Enterprise Support Officer and two Youth Enterprise Champions. All are on hand to offer information, support, advice and guidance in order to make your journey into employment or self-employment as smooth as possible.

Within the team, there is a wealth of experience of supporting young people to help them develop and reach their goals as well as a background of knowledge surrounding self-employment gained from personal, firsthand experience.

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MELTING MOMENTS HULL Charlene Genter Charlene is a young entrepreneur who joined the Making Changes for Careers programme as part of the Youth Employment Initiative in August 2016. She had been dabbling in arts and crafts based hobbies for over ten years, originally making gift items and cards for friends and family, testing the market to see if there was a demand for her products and services. Charlene had always been interested in setting up her own business but says that she had no idea about how to do a business plan or where to even start.

Charlene was just about to give up on her business idea when the Making Changes for Careers team approached her at the Job centre and told her about the project and the training and support provided. She signed up for the MC4C programme and completed both the ‘Big 13’ Enterprise Skills and Finer Business Training. Charlene received a grant from the John Cracknell Youth Bank to help her purchase essential equipment to improve the quality of her products as well as providing the opportunity to complete Level 1 in Computerised Book Keeping.

Charlene’s business is craft based with a personal touch, specialising in wax melts and personalised items.

Charlene took a break from her business after the birth of her daughter but has since supported the MC4C team as an Ambassador, attending recruitment events with her products. @meltingmoments321

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BAD WOLF GAMING Ash Tyson The future is nerd!

Ash came to MC4C for support and business advice, with his idea for setting up a shop that covered all forms of nerdy, geek merchandise already underway. He and his business partner, James had noticed that there was a gap in the market for this kind of business, so they decided to create one themselves. Ash had already looked into various opportunities for funding, receiving support from the Humber Growth team, and a start-up loan. The enterprise, business skills sessions and one to one support that MC4C provided gave him the additional knowledge and skills necessary to achieve his dream of opening up his own store.

Ash had previous experience in a similar shop as supervisor and acting manager, running the shop during the busy summer periods as well as making orders and selecting which new stock to sell. He had done extensive research into his competitors and the gaming, video and comic book store industry and wanted to tap into the recent increase in tourism due to Hull’s status as City of Culture.

With support from his Business Advisor at MC4C, Ash submitted his business plan and was awarded a test market grant from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank.

Bad Wolf gaming opened its premises on Whitefriargate in June 2019 and currently sells a whole bunch of nerdy merchandise and gifts, ranging from comic books and collectible figures to video games and mugs. Ash and his partner have further plans to grow the business, which include gaming rooms, a cinema and tourism point. They currently offer pop-up opportunities for small independents to sell their products on a monthly basis within store.

You can follow Bad Wolf and their journey on their website and Social Media platforms or visit them in store. badwolfgaming.co.uk @badwolfgaminguk

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PREHISTORIC HULL Ben Robinson Ben found out about the MC4C programme through his Dad, who has been his own boss for years. Ben recognised that, after speaking to MC4C’s business advisors, he could easily turn something he was passionate about into his own business venture.

Ben had always been interested in reptiles from being a small child. He gained his knowledge about reptiles by going into reptile shops and asking questions and volunteering in pet shops. He has also looked after a large variety of reptiles, from small geckos to some of the largest snakes and monitor lizards in the world.

Ben says “I have never been on a course to study herpetology - I’m just a guy with a passion for animals based on years of experience and learning.”

Having completed the Big 13 Enterprise Skills training and 121 business support, Ben received funding from the JCYEB to purchase business insurance and a DBS check.

Ben is now the registered owner of Prehistoric Hull, an education service for people to learn about reptiles and begin to feel comfortable around them. Ben goes into schools to teach children and adults about reptiles as well as being available for community groups and birthday parties, where he aims to dispel the preconceptions that many people have about these creatures.

Ben is looking to open up a reptile store in the future to sell to the public and reach out to more people and is currently in talks with a company called Beverley Bugs about a collaborative project. The idea is to create a facility and range of courses for adults and businesses to learn about reptiles and also have a place to bring children and schools to learn outside the classroom.

Since setting up his business, Ben has attended an Enterprising Britain awards ceremony in London, been on radio Humberside and spoken at a range of events. He says that he would not have been able to do this is if it were not for the support of MC4C, giving him the confidence to do it. @hullprehistoric @PreHistoric Hull

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GRAY’S BOUTIQUE Becca Pettman and Beth Shepherdson Becca and Beth were inspired to turn their hobby of making personalised clothing and accessories into a career by their children.

They heard about the MC4C programme through a friend, who was a former participant of the programme and told them how MC4C could support them to turn their passion into a job that worked around their lifestyles. Beth and Becca say that this was the best decision they ever made.

Beth and Becca’s journey began by making unique clothes and accessories for their own children. Slowly, friends and family started asking them to make items for them and the idea for the business was born. Working with MC4C, they engaged with The Big 13 Enterprise skills and Business skills sessions and this gave them the confidence to register with HMRC as a business, with support from their personal Business Advisor. They were able to purchase promotional items to help with their start-up costs and were supported by the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank with a grant to buy equipment and the business insurance they needed to become self-employed.

Gray’s boutique is a small home-based business selling handmade and personalised clothing and accessories for all ages. Examples of products include hand-made skirts and bows, personalised named t shirts, dream catchers and jog-suits for boys and girls. The Unique Selling Point of the business is the personalised element, providing bespoke items to customers. One of their popular sellers is “back to school” socks which can be personalised with a bow to match the colour of the uniform. @graysboutique1 graysboutique1

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RUSSELL’S EMPORIUM Laura Russell Laura worked with MC4C to expand her business that she had already set up on the Etsy crafting site, selling a range of handmade items such as petticoats, cravats, peg bags and reticules and has ambitions to expand the range to make pockets and coin purses. Each of her items have a classic but modern twist to them and can be used for any events, not just the classics of weddings and re-enactments.

Laura’s background is in historical research and this is what makes her items authentic. She has a large collection of fashion books based around the time of Jane Austen which inspire the way she designs her products. Laura believes her business shows how classic items have a place in the modern world.

Initially self-taught, Laura undertook a Level 3 garment making course which she would like to build on with a higher qualification in order to increase her skills and knowledge. Her knowledge of the Georgian period and how the items are used gives her a unique selling point and she would like to expand this into other periods such as Victorian and Medieval.

Laura tries to interpret images and caricatures of the period in the designing of her products and has a passion for different fabric textures.

Clients can order bespoke items and Laura strives hard to meet the client’s expectations of fabrics and colour choices and to match people’s existing wardrobe, using photographs provided by customers.

Samples are provided so that customers have the final decision and Laura asks for feedback from clients so that she can improve her range.

Since completing the MC4C programme, Laura has supported the team at recruitment events as an Ambassador. www.etsy.com/uk/shop/RussellsEmporium @laurarussellsemporium @Russell’sEmporium

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AMETHYST CLEANING Leah Marie Ariss Leah has always loved cleaning. From being a teenager she would clean, not just her bedroom, but the whole house for her Mother. Leah started to earn pocket money for ironing; she would iron her Uncle’s army uniform when he was home on leave and did occasional cleaning for family friends for extra money but never thought of turning the idea into a business. Having tried various jobs working for others, Leah decided that being her own boss was the best way of providing for her family as well as being able to choose her own hours and fit work around family life.

Leah attended the MC4C Enterprise skills sessions and worked with her personal Business Advisor to produce a business plan and develop her social media platforms. She was granted a Test Market Grant from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank (JCYEB) to help with the set-up of her business. Leah has grown in confidence since she started her journey with MC4C and she took a huge step out of her comfort zone during Global Entrepreneurship week 2018 by pitching her business idea to a room of 80+ people at The Hook Up Dinner Yorkshire (THUD), something she had never done before. Her bravery paid off as she was the winner of the best pitch and has since appeared on Viking Radio.

Leah has built up a regular client list of loyal customers and actively promotes her services on her Social Media platforms.

Amongst other services, Amethyst Cleaning offers weekly or fortnightly cleans, cleaning of empty properties before and after tenancies and internal window cleaning. Leah offers a personal and bespoke service and meets every new client in person at their home.

You can follow her or find out more on Facebook @amethystcleaningco

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THE CLASSICAL MATT Matthew Bunting Matthew was referred to the Making Changes for Careers programme through his Keyworker at Kenworthy House. He is a talented musician, having gained his grade 7 music qualification, and has a wealth of experience playing in annual concerts with Hull piano school. Matthew also enjoys composing his own music and playing the piano at his local church.

Matthew was a regular attender on the Big 13 Enterprise skills sessions and grew in confidence as the weeks progressed. Through discussions in his one to one sessions with his Business Advisor, he decided to look into the possibility of becoming a freelance piano teacher.

Matthew was introduced to Danny Barker, a local music teacher, who assessed his abilities and was confident that Matthew had the talent and skills to achieve his business ambition.

With the help of his Business Advisor, Matthew set up a website offering piano lessons and other musical services including converting original recordings to MP3 and teaching the use of a range of music software programmes. He is also available to provide background music for a range of events and live performances.

Matthew’s business plan was presented to the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank and he was awarded a grant to purchase a portable keyboard so that he can take his piano lessons to the learner. Matthew is also funding part of his piano teaching business through advertisements on his YouTube channel, where he uploads videos of performances, arrangements, compositions and other original content.

Matthew is currently working towards achieving his grade 8 music piano and theory qualifications. You can find out more by visiting the following: www.theclassicalmatt.co.uk @TheClassicalMatt

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LIFE AND LOOM Fynn Hopper MC4C first met Fynn at an event in Trinity Square at Hull Minster. Fynn had a background and qualifications in Learning Disability nursing, his wife was a skilled weaver and Fynn had already started to put the wheels in motion for his idea of running his own social enterprise business.

Fynn signed up with MC4C and, using the skills learned in the Big 13 Enterprise and Business skills sessions, as well as support and advice from his personal Business Advisor, Fynn quickly finalised his Business Plan. With MC4C’s help, he was able to access specialist courses to help him gain the knowledge and skills he needed for his enterprise and financial support from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank helped him with initial costs for his fledgling business. Fynn and his wife had a pop-up stall in Humber Street in June 2019 and, having secured premises for his enterprise in Selby Street in Hull, Life and Loom was officially opened for business by the Deputy Lord Mayor on 23rd August 2019. Since then they have gone from strength to strength and have been featured in a variety of local publications.

Life and Loom is a not-for-profit weaving studio and social enterprise based in Hull, They strive to integrate education, care, hand craft, meaningful work and therapy to create a holistic response to the needs of the individual. Being part of a social enterprise and engaging in hand craft, people learn more than purely academic and functional skills, but also transferable work skills, independent livings skills and, most importantly, they learn to value themselves.

Life and Loom helps to open up opportunities for all people to experience the therapeutic potential of hand craft.

You can find out more about Life and Loom by visiting the links below: www.lifeandloom.co.uk @lifeandloomstudio

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“Today’s enterprising young people will create tomorrow’s jobs, so it’s vital that they get the practical and financial support they need in the early days of their business careers.”

Sean Royce Managing Director, KCOM “Enterprising young people are the lifeblood of a growing economy and with the help of the Youth Enterprise Bank they can help ensure they can develop the skills necessary today to become the employers of tomorrow.”

Beckie Hart Yorkshire & Humber CBI “I know how important it is to be listened to and given a fair chance.

With your help the Youth Enterprise Bank can support the entrepreneurs of the future within your community!”

Claire Young, Patron JCYEB

We need your mentoring skills Your Success is Their Success When you were at school and the Careers Officer talked to you about your various job options, we bet ‘entrepreneur’ wasn’t even mentioned, but you’ve gone out there and done it, so how did you make that happen?

Maybe your business received help, formal and informal, people who gave you advice, their time and wanted to help you in whatever ways they could, practical, financial or simply being someone to ‘ask’?

If, through your endeavour and hard work (and listening to a few of those people) you’re in a position to help the next generation of entrepreneurs, we’d love you to get involved and keep the spirit of entrepreneurship alive and thriving in Hull and surrounding areas.

Starting a business isn’t just a positive career option, it can set young people up with the skills, confidence and contacts to change their lives for the better.

We supply the young people, the support, and all the help we can, but it needs the continuing input and patronage of local business to nurture the fully rounded approach that the JCYEB has always thrived on.

You’ve been there, done that, made the mistakes and enjoyed the success of your endeavours.

Now you can help other young people become the next generation of entrepreneurs.

To We need you as a JCYEB Partner Get involved and make a difference; in return, you’ll benefit from:     

Philanthropic ‘feel good’ factor Positive brand awareness Accredited supporter status Staff development opportunities Invitations to business events

... and much more!

out mo find how yo re about uc involve an get d call

0148 613482 9

What do we need from you?

As with all projects of this nature, success comes down to resourcing and quite simply, the more we have, the more business ideas and young people we can support.

So yes, the scheme does need your financial support, but more than that we’re encouraging partners to get involved, after all you’re the ones who have been there, made the mistakes and enjoyed the success of your endeavours and we feel it’s just as important to have you, your staff and your combined experience directly involved.

We see the scheme as offering mutual benefits to the young people and partners alike and as a JCYEB Partner, your business will both give and receive in equal measure.

Your success means their success

Guildhall (Rm 22D), Alfred Gelder Street, Hull, HU1 2AA 01482 613489 www.youthenterprise.co.uk www.jcyebpartners.co.uk

SOPHIE RAVEN STYLIST Sophie Raven Sophie has a passion for fashion! After achieving a distinction in BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Fashion and Clothing at Wilberforce College Sophie decided that she would like to set up her own business providing a styling service to clients, working on photoshoots, TV and video sets in the studio and on location both in the UK and abroad. Many Companies require someone to style outfits for their advertising, benefitting both the Company and their customers. As Sophie says “The fashion industry, possibly more than any other, is always looking for new talent.”

Sophie already had good knowledge and experience of the kind of work involved in being a fashion stylist and the process involved in preparing for/ during a shoot. She had assisted stylists on photo shoots across the UK for the Sun newspaper, Awkward World magazine and had spent time as an intern Fashion Assistant at Fabulous magazine, building up the relevant skills required for styling to add to the skills she learned from her college course. To make the next step towards her dream ambition, Sophie just needed the necessary knowledge and skills to become self-employed and that’s where Making Changes for Careers came in. Sophie signed up to the programme and quickly completed the Big 13 Enterprise Skills sessions. With support from her Business Advisor and additional Business Skills sessions, Sophie created a business plan and was successful in being awarded a Test Market Grant from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank to take her idea to the next level. Sophie was given support to sign up to HMRC and register her business, create business cards and flyers to promote her services and advice on the next steps to take. She was keen to acquire practical experience in the fashion industry and used some of her grant to fund travel to London and other places to work on fashion shoots.

Since leaving the MC4C programme, Sophie has gained a position as a visual merchandiser at Primark in London and is still actively pursuing her dream of working for herself. Sophie’s services include styling outfits for models/still life fashion products for editorials, catalogues or magazines, basing her work on the client’s brief and ensuring the end result looks good and meets the client’s vision. www.sophieravenstylist.com @Sophie Raven Stylist @sophieraven97

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LOTTIE & BOWS Aliesha Nelson Designer Accessories for Fashionable dogs!

Lottie&Bows

Aliesha is a young lady with a talent for sewing and design and a passion for dogs, particularly her own pug, Lottie! She wanted to combine these areas of interest into a business but wasn’t sure how to go about it until a conversation at the Job Centre led to her being referred to MC4C. After studying Business, Finance and Computerised Accounts, Marketing and Product Promotion at Hull College for 2 years, Aliesha received a qualification in Business and wanted to put this to good use. There aren’t many businesses offering fashionable and tailored products for dogs and she saw a gap in the market that could be filled by her hand-made products, particularly as these types of products are growing in popularity. Aliesha impressed from her first meeting with the MC4C team, with her creativity and passion for her products. She had already put together a presentation outlining her idea and it didn’t take long for her get to grips with creating her business plan.

The Big 13 Enterprise Skills sessions and Business Skills sessions enhanced Aliesha’s previous qualifications and a grant from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank helped her with her initial set-up costs to launch her business onto the market. Aliesha’s products range from dog harnesses to other fun items and accessories such as bandanas and bows - fashionable, tailored pet accessories designed for dogs of any breed.

“Lottie & Bows” was launched in time for Hull Show and Aliesha has since attended and organised a number of other local dog shows. @Lottie&Bows

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DANNY’S HAIRDRESSING Danny Gleadhill Danny is the proud owner of Danny’s Hairdressing.

He gained his hairdressing qualifications at Hull College and started off as a mobile hairdresser and renting a chair in a local salon, but his dream was to open his own business.

Danny impressed MC4C with his passion for his profession. He instantly makes others feel at home and this is true both on the programme and in his work. People visit Danny because of his skills as a hairdresser and his infectious personality. As he says “Hairdressers aren’t magicians, they’re counsellors and help people.

Women tell a stylist all their problems.”

Danny received funding from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, which allowed him to invest in further equipment to expand the services he could offer.

Since progressing from the MC4C programme into selfemployment, Danny has gone from strength to strength, developing his online presence through his Facebook page where he offers the full range of hairdressing services from colouring, cutting, barbering, styling and treatments to putups for weddings and proms and even pamper nights. He has worked in collaboration with a trained beautician and photographer to offer a full packaged deal for events such as weddings and proms. Danny’s success is down to his hard work and creativitity; his Social Media page is kept up to date with competitions and offers and he has a waiting list of regular clients.

Danny’s latest project saw him and his partner creating and building a salon in his back garden, where he can provide his services in a dedicated space that is full of his personality and creative flair. @dannyshairdressing

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E&T PHOTOGRAPHY Toni Alden Toni came to MC4C after being recommended by a friend, who had already taken part in the programme.

She wanted to turn her photography hobby into a business that could fit around caring for her young son.

Toni already had an impressive portfolio and quickly completed the Big 13 Enterprise Skills sessions, gaining her level 1 certificate. She attended Business skills sessions and additional events to help her make the most out of advertising her business on Social Media, as well as having the opportunity to meet with an established photographer to gain valuable advice on setting up in business as a self-employed photographer.

Toni was proactive in working on her business plan, quickly completing it with the support of her Business Advisor. The business plan was presented to the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, where she was awarded a grant to purchase resources to help her in the start-up period of her fledgling business and increase the quality of her photography shoots and the services she could offer.

Toni specialises in baby and children’s photography and was given support to obtain her DBS certification through her participant allowance whilst on programme. She offers a whole range of services on her Social Media site, including cake smashes, milestone packages, paint and splash, pet photo shoots and themed photo shoots for special days. She has built up a loyal following of satisfied customers and the reviews on her Facebook page speak for themselves.

You can find out more about Toni by visiting her Social Media site: @ElijahAndToni

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KES-TECH ELECTRICAL SERVICES Danny Kerswill Danny is the founder of KES-Tech Electrical Services, specialising in safety and upgrade of electrics in domestic properties and commercial businesses.

Danny came to MC4C with 11 years’ experience in electrical installation, including wireless internet contracts and a letting agency contract on 350 properties in Hull.

He had won 2 awards for high standards of work at Halls Construction Ltd, having been personally trained as an electrical apprentice by Alexander James Hall when he was building the company Halltech Electrical Ltd. Danny had been self-employed before but had to stop trading for a period due to a back injury. MC4C supported him with Enterprise and Business Skills training and one to one support and advice to put together a business plan and take that next step back into the labour market. Danny was successful in obtaining a grant from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, which he used to purchase equipment and promote his new business.

Since progressing into self-employment, Danny has become an Ambassador for the MC4C programme, supporting the team at recruitment events and sharing his experience on the programme.

Danny is particularly passionate about promoting the use of new ‘Smart’ technology to give properties and businesses the wow factor and the ability to adjust lighting and heating via a smart phone. He also provides guidance to landlords/business owners about laws and regulations surrounding electrics.

Danny believes this type of work is vital to ensure all properties are up-to date with current regulations and also to future-proof properties with smart control and L.E.D lighting ideas.

You can find out more about Danny’s business and the latest electrical innovations by visiting @KESelectricalspecialist

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CLOIE COUTURE & C.F.G. Cloie Hockney and Robin Coates Cloie and Robin were recommended to MC4C after graduating with a degree in fashion from Hull School of Art and Design. They both wanted to set up their own business doing the thing they loved, creating bespoke, handmade designer items. Cloie and Robin already had a firm idea about their businesses and used the advice and guidance of the MC4C team to build up their enterprise skills and put together their business plans, receiving a grant from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank to help them with their initial start-up costs.

Although they work together, their designs have a very different feel. Robin creates handcrafted leather garments and accessories with a ‘biker’ feel to them, whereas Cloie specialises in creating sassy and unique clothing with a focus on making fashion fun, colourful, comfortable, ethical, practical and sustainable.

Cloie and Robin initially set up their own studio near Hull’s indoor market and took their unique brands to a variety of pop-up stalls at local markets and events.

They succeeded in reaching the final of the Hull and Humber young traders market in 2019 and have since moved into new premises in Hull. @cloiecouture @culturalfgenius www.cloie.co.uk @cloiecouture

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PICTURESQUE PHOTOGRAPHY Leigh Williamson Leigh is owner and founder of Picturesque Photography. She initially studied Business Administration at Hull College, achieving a level three qualification. Leigh gained experience working alongside a photographer, watermarking their work and helping them with the administration of the business. It was this experience that led to Leigh’s desire to open her own photography business, which would fit around her family commitments.

Leigh had a passion for taking photographs of people but she had never considered turning her hobby into a business until her engagement with Springboard and MC4C. Leigh completed the Enterprise Skills sessions and, with the support of her Business Advisor, quickly created her business plan, registered with HMRC and set up her Social Media account. She was awarded a grant from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, which she used to purchase essential equipment to set up her business. Leigh has supported the MC4C team at a variety of recruitment events as an Ambassador and attended the local Chamber of Commerce Business Expo in 2018. Her story was covered in the local newspaper that same year.

Leigh’s business offers mobile and stationed photography. She caters for both large and small events and specialises in weddings and seasonal shoots. Leigh’s latest venture is taking advantage of the popularity of photo booths and offers one to hire out at weddings and other events.

You can find out more about Leigh’s business and her journey on Social Media: @picturesquePhotographyleigh

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HAIR BY EMILLY Emilly Campbell Emilly is owner of Hair by Emilly but her story starts way before her engagement with the MC4C programme. Emilly says “After leaving school I started as a Saturday girl in a local salon. Within a few weeks the proprietor offered me the opportunity to become an apprentice and trained me up to Level 3 in Hairdressing in-house.” Emilly worked in the salon up until the birth of her son and afterwards continued with mobile hairdressing for family and close friends only. She decided to find out how to become registered as self-employed so that she could offer her services on a wider scale.

Emilly’s Keyworker recommended the Making Changes for Careers programme and she completed the Big 13 enterprise skills training, which helped her understand more about working for herself. With the help of her Business Advisor, she built a business plan, registered a domain name and was supported to set up a Facebook page. All learners on the MC4C programme have access to a small allowance and Emilly used this to purchase business insurance and business cards to promote her new business, and then registered with HMRC. As part of the MC4C programme, Emilly was also able to apply for a Market Test Grant from John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, allowing her to invest in a card payment system, which in turn would improve the efficiency of her business.

Since setting up in self-employment, Emilly’s business has blossomed and she has built up a loyal clientele. She offers the full range of hairdressing services including cuts, colours and restyles and, having started off renting a chair in a salon, is now the proud owner of her own salon. @hairbyemilly.co.uk

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ARTHUR & THE HONEY BEE Jennifer Gregory Jenny, owner and founder of Arthur and the Honey Bee, was a self-referral to the MC4C programme after hearing about the support available. She completed her own business plan, successfully applied for grant funding, attended the Big 13 Enterprise Skills Training and completed her Level 1 in Computerised Accounts for Business.

So what led Jenny down the path to selfemployment? The seed for Jenny’s business idea had been planted from her own personal experiences. Jenny says “Since studying textiles at school I have always had a passion for art, fashion and creative textiles particularly in children’s clothing and accessories. I was particularly inspired when completing my textiles GCSE where I created a children’s educational doll with a wardrobe of clothes which could be changed according to the activity book.

This included educational learning devices such as zips, buttons and laces which stimulate early years’ development.”

With funding from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank and the help, advice and guidance from the business advisors at MC4C, Jenny was able to develop the design for an innovative changing bag, which combined the necessities of a changing bag with the style of an everyday unisex bag for both mother and father to use, would also grow with the family through the new-born, toddler and more. She gained the knowledge to protect her design legally and source a manufacturer to produce the prototype, allowing Jenny to market test the idea.

Since progressing from MC4C into selfemployment, Jenny’s own family has grown and her business has taken a different direction. She made a successful pitch to the Badger’s Sett competition and is now busy with her business specialising in beauty, make-up and mobile spray-tanning for weddings and special occasions. @Basebeautyby

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C.J.E.’S CREATIONS Courtney Exelby Courtney enrolled on the MC4C programme in 2016 with no real idea of the direction she wanted to go in. She engaged with the Enterprise skills sessions, gradually growing in confidence and completing the programme. The team was very proud of Courtney’s progress and the young woman that she had become. Courtney felt that self-employment wasn’t for her and eventually progressed into employment, proving that enterprise development isn’t just about self-employment and can help to build confidence and improve on many transferable skills, creating employment opportunities beyond setting up in business.

Since leaving her job, Courtney has re-visited the idea of becoming self-employed and, with help from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, set up CJE’s Creations.

Courtney is an extremely creative person, and her business isn’t just work to her, but a hobby that she is extremely passionate about, with real love and care put into everything she does. She has also joined the team of Ambassadors for MC4C, supporting them at a variety of recruitment events.

CJE’s Creations specialises in creating woollen products, from knitted blankets and crocheted blankets to baby clothes and accessories. As well as selling her products to customers, Courtney also donates a proportion of her work to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at several hospitals, making ‘bonding squares’ for premature babies whose mothers cannot stay with them. Most items are made with neutral colouring to sell to a wider audience, but colour-specific items are also provided for those who wish to have specified designs. @CJE’s creations

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FREE YOURSELF Laura Suter Laura is owner of Free Yourself after-school drama clubs, working with several local primary schools and academies in the Hull area. Laura’s business idea is based around drama therapy. The clubs are open to everyone, but with a focus on supporting those who suffer from bullying or mental health issues. The intention with the drama therapy is to help participants improve low self-esteem and grow in confidence. The clubs that Laura runs give the children a place amongst friends where they can be themselves and feel completely comfortable in doing so.

Laura says ‘The clubs are based on a programme of workshops, developed by myself, each lasting for a school term. Each term will have a different theme, for example improvisation, musical theatre, scripted work, etc.

The children involved will all work towards a show case performance and will also have the opportunity to be involved in costume, stage and set design. I believe that my business benefits the community as it is something everyone is welcome to be a part of and get involved with and it is also helping people who do suffer silently with problems. The sessions will give participants the security, safety and comfort they need to help them grow as a person within their own time and in an enjoyable and fun way.’

Thanks to the support of MC4C and funding from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, which allowed Laura to purchase the materials needed to get up and running, Laura has been successfully running her business for a couple of years now and has expanded to provide sessions during the school holidays. She has plans to eventually have her own premises and teach a range of styles and age groups.

You can follow Laura on Facebook @freeyourselfdrama

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ELISHA’S BAKERY Elisha Foyston Elisha was referred to the MC4C team by her keyworker. She wanted to work for herself and was keen to do something in the catering industry.

After discussing her options with her Business Advisor, Elisha decided to set up her own bakery business, specialising in cakes, pastries, cupcakes and desserts.

Elisha successfully completed the Big 13 Enterprise Skills sessions with MC4C, as well as completing an online Food Hygiene qualification and, with the support of her Business Advisor, put together a business plan which was submitted to the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank. Elisha was awarded a test market grant, which she put towards essential equipment to get her business off the ground, as well as a cookery course to increase her knowledge and skills.

Elisha has always enjoyed baking and has the ambition to create a bespoke and personalised service, catering for local clients and offering specialist lines to cater for those with allergies and different needs. Elisha has started her micro-business by advertising online and to family and friends and would like to expand to having a stall at local markets. Her dream is to eventually open her own shop or restaurant. @ElishasBakery1

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BOHEMIAN PHOTOGRAPHY Jennifer Cunningham Jenny’s passion for photography has been a huge stepping stone to helping her business thrive, with every photograph showcasing her immense talent for photography. What makes Jennifer’s talent all the more amazing is that she is completely self-taught, which for anyone familiar with Jennifer’s work, is an amazing skill for her to have learnt completely of her own accord.

Jenny feels she was never very academic. She explains, “I didn’t really like school and I came away with poor grades but I have a lot of common sense and I do learn new skills really quickly”. Jenny completed courses in Health and Social care, as well as a Business Administration course with Think Employment. Her biggest influence and personal mentor however is her father, who has been self-employed for over 30 years, and has given her the advice and guidance to help her succeed in her chosen profession.

Jenny came to MC4C for further advice and support with the finer details of completing her business plan and registering as a business and completed the Big 13 Enterprise Skills programme with ease.

Bohemian Photography specialises in newborn and baby photographs as well as family and events photography and you will see from Jenny’s Social Media pages that she has done some pretty spectacular landscape shots as well! @BohemianEventsPotography

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THE PLASTER MASTER HULL Ashley Millar Ashley came to MC4C keen to implement his ambition to become a self-employed plasterer. Ashley already had an impressive list of knowledge and skills, including National Vocational Qualifications in plastering, tiling, multi-skills, health & safety, asbestos awareness and heavylifting training. He also gained his Construction Skills Certification Scheme card, which provides legal evidence that he is permitted to work on construction sites.

Ashley quickly completed the Big 13 Enterprise Skills sessions and was supported by the team to complete a business plan, decide on a business name and design a Social Media site.

His business plan was presented to the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank where he was awarded a grant to help him with his start up costs.

Having set up his own business ‘Plaster Master’, with assistance from the MC4C team Ashley had gone from strength to strength, providing services in plastering and tiling for homeowners, business owners, and general property owners alike. Plaster Master offers general property refurbishment services to customers looking to rejuvenate life into their homes, business and/or general properties, all for a reasonable price and professional quality. With qualifications in plastering and tiling, as well as general health & safety training, you can guarantee the best quality of work from Ashley.

Find out more by visiting his Facebook page @ThePlasterMasterHull

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The BIG 13 The ‘Big 13’ Enterprise Skills training programme is designed to educate and enhance young people’s understanding of the skills needed to be successful in business and/or employment.

We offer a variety of training sessions which encourage young people to think about the skills they already possess and how these can be beneficial to the world of work. Activities and plans around the ‘Big 13’ Enterprise Skills will be engaging, challenging and also enjoyable.

Developing an explicit understanding of the ‘Big 13’ Enterprise Skills will help young people develop their confidence and communication, challenge them, and also encourage them to have aspirations that could potentially lead to becoming a more enterprising person in employment or as an entrepreneur.

Introduction to Skills Passport Our training and workshops are designed to focus on The ‘Big 13’ Enterprise Skills with the hope that we will be able to inspire the next generation of young entrepreneurs, helping them to develop transferable skills. Participants learn in an informal group setting through practical activities, debates, question and answer sessions and worksheets, completing a personal Enterprise Skills Passport that details their entrepreneurial journey and highlights their understanding and practical application of The ‘Big 13’ Enterprise Skills.

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Useful Links John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank www.youthenterprise.co.uk Hull City Council www.hullcc.gov.uk Enterprise Nation www.enterprisenation.com Hull Youth Support Trust www.hyst.org.uk Women’s Enterprise in the Humber www.weih.co.uk Hull Acorn Fund www.chamberacornfund.com Sirius Enterprise Agency www.sirius-hull.co.uk HMRC Help for StartUps www.hmrc.gov.uk/courses/SYOB3/syob_3/html/syob_3_menu.html HMRC www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs For Entrepreneurs Only www.forentrepreneursonly.co.uk Job CentrePlus www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus Global Entrepreneurship Week www.gewhull.co.uk Small Business Commissioner www.smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk Invest Hull www.investhull.co.uk

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Contact us Graham Henderson Youth Enterprise Advisor 01482 615355 Graham.Henderson@hullcc.gov.uk Charlene Porteous Youth Enterprise Advisor 01482 613093 Charlene.Porteous@hullcc.gov.uk Helen Robinson Youth Enterprise Support Officer 01482 616219 Helen.Robinson@hullcc.gov.uk Sarah Fenwick Young Person’s Youth Enterprise Champion 01482 612509 Sarah.Fenwick@hullcc.gov.uk Joel Bedworth Young Person’s Youth Enterprise Champion 01482 612534 Joel.Bedworth@hullcc.gov.uk You can follow us on Twitter @MCFCinHull You can find us on Facebook Making Changes for Careers You can watch us on YouTube MC4C TV The Lowgate Centre 76-78 Lowgate Hull HU1 1HP

We support young people in Hull to develop their enterprising idea through a series of enterprising activities & business support.

Humber Learning Consortium is the lead partner for the Springboard Hull and Humber partnership project, providing specialist support and training for young people to access work and learning. This activity is part financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative and ThisAbility on behalf of The National Lottery Community Fund.

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