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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Volunteering

Give a little time and get back much more!

If you’re looking for a way to give something back to the community you live or work in, why not help a young person realise their aspirations of starting up in business?

We have many different roles to offer and the time commitment can be as little or much as you like, and although it’s preferable that you’ve run your own business or have professional experience, it’s not essential.

The role of a PSYBT volunteer is varied and this is what makes it so enjoyable. Seeing the difference you can make to a young person’s confidence and watching their skills and knowledge grow is incredible. You’ll also get something from it too. You’ll build on your own skills, gain a sense of satisfaction and achievement, boost your career options and benefit from exclusive access to training, events and awards ceremonies specifically aimed at enterprise.

To view examples of the variety of volunteers who give their time to PSYBT see our case studies.

For more information on how you can get involved in volunteering with PSYBT download our Volunteering Application and return it to theresa.beggs@princes-trust.org.uk

View our Volunteer Policy.

 

Regional Panel Member

Role

Summary of Role

Panel members are responsible for vetting all business plans, interviewing applicants and making the all important decisions on awards. All Regional Panel members are invited to join PSYBT by the Regional Chairman of the area.

Skills Required

  • Wide range of business experience
  • Knowledge of the local economy
  • Ability to relate to young people
  • Good listening and observational skills
  • The ability to extract information in a sensitive manner

Responsibilities

  • Attending Panel meetings – aim to make yourself available when required to attend a Panel
  • Reading Business Plans – part of the decision-making process is based on an assessment of the business plan
  • Interviewing Applicants – you will ask applicants about their business ideas and why they need support from PSYBT
  • Contributing to the Decision-Making Process - in addition to deciding whether or not to support the applicant, the Panel must decide other issues such as whether conditions are to be attached to the award, e.g. should the award be increased or decreased, should the applicant attend a training course first
 

Mentoring Opportunities

Role

Summary of Role

Mentors provide business support and guidance to young business people through regular communication. This involves developing strong working relationships with the proprietors of the businesses and the building up of mutual trust.

Skills Required

  • Good communication skills.
  • Ability to relate to young people.
  • Good listening and observation skills.
  • Business background (owner /manager).
  • Marketing or financial experience extremely useful.

Responsibilities

  • Assist businesses to develop and grow, referring clients to business specialists as required.
  • Provide a ‘mentoring’ service to an average of 4 businesses.
  • Assist with the interpretation of a clients quarterly accounts.
  • Review the marketing strategy.
  • Identify training needs or any further assistance PSYBT could provide.
 

Growth Fund Mentor

Summary of Role

Growth Fund Mentors provide support to clients once they have received either a Development Loan of up to £10,000 to expand their business or an Accelerator Loan of £10,000 to £25,000 to grow and expand their business significantly. Our Innovation fund is also supported by Growth Fund Mentors.

Skills Required

  • Experience and skills which can be used to mentor a growing business.
  • Good communication skills.
  • Ability to relate to young people.
  • Good listening and observation skills.
  • Good business background (owner /senior manager).
  • Marketing or financial experience extremely useful.

Responsibilities

  • The Mentor will provide a "mentoring" service to a growing business. This would equate to approximately 1.5 hours per month.
  • Attend Growth fund and national events.
  • Assist with the interpretation of client’s quarterly management accounts. If necessary, provide assistance with the preparation of quarterly management accounts.
  • Use financial reports to identify areas for attention and assist clients to find ways of addressing these.
  • Review marketing strategy and results to cover, if necessary, sales activity, product quality, advertising etc.
  • Review training needs and any external or wider PSYBT assistance required.
  • Prepare an action plan with agreed commitments, priorities and timescales.
  • Complete quarterly reports (should take around 30 minutes per report).
  • Assist the client with their business growth strategy helping them to prioritise and work through the actions.
 

Specialist Adviser

Role

Summary of Role

The role of the Specialist Adviser is to provide business support and guidance to young business people, funded by PSYBT. This will involve sharing your specialist knowledge with other volunteers to enable them to support their clients and, in some cases, for you to communicate directly with their clients.

Skills Required

  • Specialist in field you are advising on with proven track record
  • Good communication skills
  • Ability to relate to young people
  • Good listening and observation skills
  • Business background (owner /manager)

Responsibilities

  • You must assist businesses to develop and grow
  • Review training needs and any external or wider PSYBT assistance required
  • Liaise with clients, aftercare adviser and Regional Manager.
  • Lead clients towards independence from PSYBT at the two- year point. Where appropriate, recommend extension for specified period.
  • Prepare an action plan with agreed commitments, priorities and timescales.
  • Direct clients to corporate helplines and Training opportunities.
  • Assisting at events and workshop facilitation.
 

Volunteer Coordinator

Role

Summary of Role

This role requires providing support to the group of volunteers in your region, enabling them to carry out their aftercare role with the young people being supported by PSYBT. This will involve the assignment of Aftercare Advisers to young people, assisting in the gathering of Aftercare reports and providing subsequent feedback on reports received to the Regional Manager and/or through the CRM.

Skills Required

  • Good communication skills
  • Ability to relate to young people
  • Good listening and observation skills
  • Leadership and coaching skills
  • IT skills

Responsibilities

  • Manage the assignment of Aftercare Advisers to young people
  • Provide your team of aftercare advisers with support, leadership and coaching
  • Arrange regular support sessions for volunteers in order to share experiences, good practice and offer guidance
  • Assist in the gathering of aftercare reports and subsequent feedback to reports received
  • Maintain full and accurate records of activities on CRM
 

Regional Fundraising Champion

Role

Summary of Role

The Regional Fundraising Champion will raise awareness of the benefits of supporting PSYBT on a financial basis. This will involve following up Regional leads and creating new contacts, ranging from a variety of areas such as: individuals, trusts and corporate and public sector organisations.

Skills Required

  • Strong network within Business community
  • Good communication skills
  • Reliability & Confidentiality
  • Understanding of the PSYBT model
  • Fundraising background beneficial

Responsibilities

  • Assist Regional Manager with fundraising
  • Build on existing Regional contacts
  • Open up new Regional networks for PSYBT
  • Attend on going training and updates with fundraising team
  • Raise local awareness and attend fundraising events
 

Regional Ambassador

Role

Summary of Role

The role of a Regional Ambassador is to support their Regional Manager through involvement in local marketing functions and raising the PSYBT profile at events. Regional Ambassadors will be invited to carry out this role by Regional Managers, they will inspire, motivate and be seen as a role model for young people to aspire to.

Skills Required

  • Builds understanding and trust
  • Good communications skills
  • Networking skills
  • Motivational
  • Understands the PSYBT model
  • Must have started a business with PSYBT support
  • Organisational skills

Responsibilities

  • Attendance and participation at events / networking
  • Meeting and promoting PSYBT to young entrepreneurs
  • Creating opportunities to promote PSYBT within Scotland
  • Follow up PR – case studies and links with press