PSYBT is now Youth Business Scotland, part of The Prince's Trust. We are currently reviewing all of our branding and marketing materials – please bear with us as we introduce these changes. United, we are Scotland's leading youth organisation; supporting more young people into jobs, self–employment, training, education and volunteering. You can also visit www.princes-trust.org.uk

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Your Business

Starting your Business

If you’re thinking about starting a business, PSYBT can help you get the necessary funding and advice you need to get off the ground.

If you are in Scotland, aged between 18 and 25 (or 26 and 30 if you are disabled) and want to run your own business PSYBT can provide:

  • loans of up to £5000 and grants of up to £1000 (conditions apply)
  • a free business mentor for the first two years of the business
  • advice on your business plan
  • access to training, like free book-keeping courses
  • information on events such as our business networking club, Elevator
  • opportunities to attend exhibitions
  • information about how to increase the profile of your business.

We can provide other types of funding depending on what stage of business you’re in such as Test Marketing Grants, Expansion Funding, Exhibition Grants, Innovation Funding and Growth Funding and help to grow your business.

Right from the start we’ll give you free confidential advice on starting a business.

What else does PSYBT offer?

At PSYBT we believe it’s really important to offer ongoing professional support to the people we help. We know first hand how challenging starting your own business can be and we want to give you more than just money to make your business a success.

Our Regional Managers work alongside Business Gateway and will direct you for help to write a business plan or identify any training you might need. This includes advice on the different aspects of your plan such as financial planning and information on other funders that may be available to you.

All our mentors are business professionals and have a wealth of experience to pass on. Many of the entrepreneurs we’ve helped have said that their mentor was of great value and that the advice they gave them was worth more that the initial funding they were awarded. Some of our mentors were previously funded by us so they really relate to what you are going through.

We’ve also got specialist advisers that can help out should you need help in a specific area of your business, such as legal, property, marketing or accounting advice.

The first step is to get in touch with us.

 

If you already have an idea for your own business

First you have to write a business plan, and we’re here to help. Your business plan is a crucial document and will not only help you to secure funding and other necessary support for your business. The plan is also a guide as to where your business is headed, how far you’ve come, what you’ve achieved and what you’d still like to accomplish.

Download our template business plan and read over the different elements you need to complete. Look at our Start Up Guide. It’s got loads of great information on what being in business is really like by people who’ve been there and done it and useful information on how to complete a business plan.

Contact PSYBT and we’ll put you in touch with one of our local regional managers and you will get help to complete the rest of the business plan and get ready to present it to the PSYBT funding panel. We’ll be there every step of the way and work with you at your own pace.

 

PSYBT funding panels

If you’ve finished your business plan and you and the PSYBT Regional Manager are both confident it’s ready, then our Regional Manager will organise a time with you to present your case forward to a PSYBT funding panel.

This is usually a 30 minute session to find out more about your ideas and see if you are ready for the next step. Panels are usually made up of three volunteers with professional experience of business.

If you have been successful you will find out on the same day.

 

If you want to run your own business, but don’t have an idea yet

Some people just know they want to be in business but don’t necessarily have an idea to make that dream happen. For some people going into business is about finding an opportunity that’s already out there and making it work for them. Think about why you want to be in business and what type of business you might like to run.

You could:

  • Contact your local Business Gateway who run workshops on starting a business or visit Shell Livewire
  • Come along to Elevator. Elevator is a networking club exclusively for young people aged 18 – 30 who are in business or thinking about starting their own business
  • Search our Business Directory or read case studies about of the different businesses we’ve helped.
  • Start your own franchise business. Why not read about Louise McDonald of Curves. She was supported by PSYBT to start her franchise business, Curves (link to Curves case study) in 2004
  • Read our Start Up Guide which has lots of information about what running a business is reallylike, and the information you need to consider when going into business.