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Your Council creating new earning opportunities for you
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When business ideas bloom
Young people in Hull and across the world will be encouraged to set their sights on business success as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week
Amanda Hartley always wanted to open her own florist shop.
And her dream was realised only a couple of years after leaving Sydney Smith School in west Hull, when she opened Blue Orchid in Hessle Road.
"I thought it was going to be virtually impossible to have my own shop on account of my age.
"Even after I opened in February last year some people doubted me and said I was too young and that the business would not survive the recession," says Amanda, who sells flowers for weddings, funerals, bouquets and baskets as well as a large selection of memorial vases and ornaments.
"I've always maintained that it's not about how old you are but how determined you are to make a business succeed.
"Although I'm still only 19 years old I have gained lots of experience, maturity and business sense in a short space of time, which is something I'm very proud of.
I've built up my business and it is doing well."
After leaving school with 13 GCSE passes, Amanda worked as an apprentice at a Hull florist four days a week to learn her trade.
She also spent a day a week at a Floristry NVQ Level 2 course at Bishop Burton College and completed an evening course in business studies at Hull College to add to her skills.
Then she acquired her shop and after cleaning the vacant unit and putting in new carpeting, wallpaper and a shop sign she opened for business with the support of Women's Enterprise in the Humber and a grant from Hull's Youth Enterprise Bank.
Among her achievements in business so far have been to win the Young Entrepreneur of the Year title at this year's Hull City Council-backed Spotlight Awards, while last month she was one of the Hull representatives invited to a reception at Downing Street as part of the Enterprise in Britain event.
"I love being my own boss.
It's empowering, I can develop my own business ideas and do things my way and if things don't work out there is only myself to blame," she says.
Amanda is now volunteering as a Global Entrepreneurship Week ambassador and she will visit Hull schools, Hull College, and the University of Hull to speak to young people and help give them the confidence to set up their own enterprises.
Two years ago, Amanda knew no-one around her own age who ran a business and now she hopes to pass on tips and advice to other young entrepreneurs.
"Young people in Hull have massive potential and I hope I can inspire them to really go for it in whatever they want to do," she adds.
Highlights of the week
More than 50 countries including Brazil, the Ivory Coast, Germany, India, the United States and China will be taking part in the week, which runs from 16 - 20 November.
Although worldwide in reach it has a strong local focus, as what motivates and inspires youth entrepreneurs in New York or Berlin may be different to what works for young people in Hull and other parts of the globe.
Among the many local highlights of the week, which is supported by Hull City Council and other partners, will be:
- motivational talks from Apprentice star Ruth Badger, blind explorer and mountaineer Miles Hilton-Barber, Home Secretary Alan Johnson MP, and Lord Mayor of Hull Cllr Karen Woods
- the regional launch of the 'Make Your Mark' initiative at Malet Lambert School in east Hull where 250 young people will be set a business challenge to complete during the week
- an event at the KC Stadium where primary pupils will learn about the importance of international trade
- an enterprise masterclass at the University of Hull for 200 young people, who will be invited to pitch their business ideas to a 'Badger Sett' of business experts (including Ruth Badger) for the chance to win up to £500 for their enterprise
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Competition
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A worldwide competition to design a logo for Global Entrepreneurship Week 2010 has been launched.
Entries are welcome from people aged 21 and under and those aged 21 to 25.
Prize money of £400 is available thanks to sponsorship from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, and more than 500 people from countries around the world have entered so far.
For competition details visit the Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership page on the Facebook website at www.facebook.com The competion closing date is 21 November.
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