Andy Burnham will introduce an online event this week which seeks to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs in Greater Manchester.
The event on February 23, Show me the money: Surviving Dragons’ Den; How to Become a Greater Manchester Entrepreneur, will feature a survivor of Dragons Den, as well as a winner of the Businesswoman of the Year in the Northern Asian Power List Awards.
It aims to give young people key information and inspiration on how to build their business ideas, drawing on expertise from successful entrepreneurs in the region.
Greater Manchester Mayor Burnham said: “Throughout this pandemic our business community has stepped up to support and help in our commitment to make sure that no young person in Greater Manchester is left behind.”
Liam Manton, Director of Didsbury Gin, will share his experience on Dragons’ Den, securing investment, and building a business with a £1.5m turnover.
He will feature alongside Karina Jadhav, owner of the Menagerie Restaurant & Bar in Salford, and winner of Businesswoman of the Year in the Northern Asian Power List Awards.
Ms Jadhav said: “When I first started out, I had no formal business education, I learnt on the job.
“There are always bumps in the road, I don’t believe anything worth doing happens in a straight line but it’s how you overcome the hurdles that make or break you.
“There is always a solution to whatever problem you face.”
Mr Manton said: “During difficult times like we’re going through now it’s about us all sticking together and doing what’s right.
“Hopefully when we come out the other side of this we’ll live in a much better society, and that includes giving young people the support and encouragement to grow a business.”
More than any other age group, young people have been hit hardest by the job crisis brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The most recent figures from the Office of National Statistics show unemployment among 16–24-year-olds in the North West standing at 12%, higher than any other age group in the region.
The national average across all ages is 5%.
The event is part of ‘Show Me The Money’, a new series of talks created by Our Pass with OpenMoney.
Our Pass is a membership scheme for young people who live in Greater Manchester, supporting both school leavers and care leavers.
The scheme was launched as a two-year pilot in September 2019, and it has been extended by another year as part of the Mayor’s 2021/22 budget.
Burnham said: “Our Pass plays an important role in supporting the Young Person’s Guarantee that we established in response to the ongoing struggles the coronavirus pandemic was having on young people across Greater Manchester.”
The event takes place over Zoom at 7pm on Tuesday, February 23. Register here.
