Thirty aspiring young entrepreneurs from across Wales spent the weekend in March at an intensive three-day residential Bootcamp event which equips them with the skills needed to bring their business ideas to life.

Big Ideas Wales’ ‘Bootcamp to Business’ event in Bala, held at the Urdd Camp in Glanllyn, was aimed at business minded people aged between 18-25. All the attendees went through an interview process before being awarded a position at the sought-after Bootcamp, where they spent the weekend learning from Welsh business people. Over two thirds of the group were students at college or university, or recently graduated, demonstrating the proactive approach between education and government to enable young entrepreneurs on the journey to starting a business.

The bi-annual three-day event featured a series of business workshops dedicated to expanding the knowledge of the young entrepreneurs, growing their network of connections and ultimately helping them to launch their business.

Big Ideas Wales ‘Role Models’, business owners and entrepreneurs from across Wales who help inspire and share their knowledge, also attended the Bootcamp. This included Gavin Mart, managing director of 3RDSPACE, a live comedy and music venue in Llandudno.

Gavin said:

“Being a Role Model for Big Ideas Wales gives me the opportunity to share my experience and understanding of growing a business with promising entrepreneurs. Many of the people at Bootcamp have fantastic business ideas and being able to help them develop is really rewarding.”

Big Ideas Wales is part of the Business Wales service to encourage youth entrepreneurship in Wales. Funded by Welsh Government and the European Regional Development Fund it helps young people aged between 5 and 25 to develop business ideas and entrepreneurial talent.

For more information on the help available to young entrepreneurs from Big Ideas Wales, visit www.bigideaswales.com