THE Hunter is the perfect region to develop “futurepreneurs” who will help the economy and provide alternative employment options for young people.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That is the message of the Hunter’s newly-appointed Entrepreneurship Facilitator Cheryl Royle, who is venturing to Scone this month.
She’ll host an information session at the Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre on Thursday, April 20, between 2pm and 4pm.
Ms Royle has been appointed by the Australian Government to the role.
She will connect young people (especially people aged 18-24 who are not in education, employment or training) with existing programs and services as well as facilitate one on one support to overcome barriers preventing them from starting their own business.
Ms Royle is one of only three such facilitators in Australia.
The other two are in Cairns and Launceston.
The government has established the facilitators in regions where there is high youth unemployment and low uptake of self-employment.
She said the latest ABS figures shows the Hunter Valley’s youth unemployment rate (15-24 years) is around 20 per cent.
Ms Royle explained the information sessions were also for business people and other members of the community who wish to be mentors for young entrepreneurs.
“I want young people and their parents to know that entrepreneurship is a valid and exciting career path and there is support for them,” she said.
One support program is the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme which can provide accredited small business training, income support and rental assistance.
The scheme also provides personalised mentoring and support in the first year of the new business to help a job seeker put their business idea into practice.
Ms Royle said there were already many entrepreneurs within the Hunter’s innovative “can-do” region.
“I’m excited about working with young people to build up a new generation of ‘futurepreneurs’,” she said.
Ms Royle has extensive experience as a facilitator working with young people.
She is also managing director of the business capability firm, The Finer Line, and co-founder of Lone Rangers, a new support network for sole business operators.
She said the information session was the start of the connections she will make with schools, careers advisors, youth and small business organisations.
“While my role is to support young people, I will work with anyone in the region who requires assistance or support,” Ms Royle said.
“I’ll connect with schools and other parts of the community to foster a culture of and a greater acceptance of entrepreneurship.”
