A YOUNG entrepreneur from Okehampton has joined the 2016/2017 cohort of the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs programme, as another student graduates from the 2015/2016 programme. 

The programme, in partnership with School for Social Entrepreneurs, is a year-long process which supports entrepreneurs developing their own social businesses through the provision of financial support and comprehensive learning support, including a business mentoring scheme.

Amy Wilson, from Okehampton, has joined the fifth year of the programme, whilst Ken Crawdord from South Tawton has recently graduated the fourth year of the entrepreneurial scheme.

Amy has joined the fifth year of the programme with her social enterprise Ale and Cake, which aims tackle exclusion and community division through positive inclusion such as workshops and cookery courses.

Ken recently graduated from the fourth year of the programme with his social enterprise The Wenceslas Project, which takes a practical approach to alleviating fuel poverty.

The entrepreneurs on the programme each receive ‘start-up’ grants of £4,000 or ‘scale-up’ grants of £15,000 from the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme. This, together with the action learning programme, delivered in partnership with School for Social Entrepreneurs, and support from their Lloyds Banking Group mentor, has enabled them to take their social enterprises to the next level and plan for the future.

Over 1,000 social entrepreneurs have been supported by the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme since its launch in 2012 and this year sees over 300 entrepreneurs join the programme, with diverse projects tackling issues such as the environment, education, gender and mental health.

Paula Rogers, head of the Social Entrepreneurs Programme at Lloyds Banking Group said: ‘Last year’s cohort of students has made significant progress since joining the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme, in partnership with School for Social Entrepreneurs, and it is fantastic to see them developing their ideas and businesses first-hand with the support from the programme. 

‘As part of our commitment to helping Britain prosper, we are proud to welcome this year’s cohort of social entrepreneurs to the programme and I look forward to witnessing their business develop and see the impact these social entrepreneurs will contribute to their communities.’

Alastair Wilson, CEO of School for Social Entrepreneurs said: ‘We have an outstanding group of social entrepreneurs graduating from the 2015/2016 cohort and I am excited to see how our new students develop and shape their ideas throughout the year, with the valuable support of the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme.’

Launched in 2012, the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme, which is supported by The Big Lottery Fund, is designed to support social entrepreneurs in communities and, through them, help stimulate economic growth and regeneration across the UK.

Recent research by CAN Invest and Investing for Good demonstrates the positive impact of the programme on people, businesses and communities. It stated that by 2017 the programme will have created over 7,000 jobs and supported 1.1-million beneficiaries.