The glorious days of Huddersfield’s textile entrepreneurs were invoked yesterday as a new batch of young businessmen and women showed their mettle.
The occasion was the official launch of the Kirklees Youth Enterprise Centre (KYEC) in Rawthorpe.
The centre – a £2m-plus project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund – is based in the Creative & Media Studio School at the Netherhall Learning Campus, Rawthorpe.
Managing director Graham Sykes said that following the ceremonial opening there was a celebration of the 24 young people who have set up businesses so far.
These include a teenager from Emley, Chris Beal, who suffered from shyness but was keen to set up a film enterprise called FotoMotion.
Thanks to his time with KYEC he received a £5,000 start-up funding and was appointed his own business mentor.
He was also taken on film shoots to gain experience and help to improve his business skills and develop his business plan.
The centre works by providing assistance for would-be entrepreneurs – offering advice and mentoring.
Inspirational speakers such as Kanya King, an internationally recognised entrepreneur and innovator in the British music industry, also attend and explain how they got started and offer their experiences.
Mr Sykes said: “Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman cut the ribbon for us and he was hugely inspired by what he saw today.
“He said it was like going back to the old textile days and now we have a new batch of entrepreneurs coming along and proving their worth.
“Currently we have 61 young entrepreneurs registered with us and I am pleased with the progress that has been achieved since the doors opened in January this year.
“Today has been brilliant, absolutely fantastic and it was great to have 20 of our young entrepreneurs here today.
“We also had Ellen MacWilliams who has set up her own management event company, Ellvents, so it made sense to have her here today too.”
