New company to support young entrepreneurs

An innovative new company set up to help creative young people develop their ideas has been officially launched.

The Centre for Entrepreneurial Education, or C4EE, held its first board meeting last week at Sketty Hall.

“C4EE is a community interest company that will engage with young people aged from 5 to 25, providing them with the entrepreneurial skills and mindsets they need to help them achieve successful futures,” says Director Sue Poole. “C4EE seeks to build on the award-winning work we have been recognised for delivering across the Swansea region – initiatives such as the Young Business Dragons, Enterprise Boot Camps and Primary to Professional.”

The launch event also saw the first recipients of sponsorship from the Swansea Seed Fund - a programme which supports early stage young entrepreneurs – receive their cheques. They included:

Graphic designer Dan Huxtable, a former Gower College Swansea student now at University of Wales Trinity Saint David, who has set up his own business - www.hdmsdesign.co.uk

Close-up magician Taylor Davies, also a former student of Gower College Swansea, who will perform at public and private functions - www.facebook.com/Taylortricksmagic

Motorcycle mechanic Ryan Flowers of A1 Motorcycles, who since childhood has been passionate about riding and maintaining motorcycles - www.a1motorcycleservices.co.uk

Also successful, but not at the event, were Jordan Thomas and Lorenz Berger who will receive their cheques at a later date:

Gower College Swansea student Jordan has set up a menswear company called Kings and Queens Apparel. Currently focussing on T-shirts, they have plans to expand into womenswear - www.kingsandqueensapparel.co.uk

Lorenz, a PhD student in mathematical modelling and scientific computing , whose start-up - Innersight Labs - is developing automated creation of 3D models from CT and MRI scans - www.innersightlabs.com

“This was a fantastic celebratory event and it gave us tremendous pleasure to hand out the cheques to these young people, which will really help them on their way,” adds Sue. “It was also an opportunity to formally acknowledge those who work so tirelessly behind the scenes and, without whom, we would not be able to continue our work.”

For more information on C4EE please visit their website at www.c4ee.co.uk

Photos: Chris Costello