Celeste Houlker believes the youth generation
is full of "can do" wannabe entrepreneurs brimming with potential -
and she should know, being the editor of LIVE
magazine, a magazine created by young people, and founder of The
12th Estate, which supports young women in building
their careers and enterprises in the creative, media and publishing
industries.
The next renowned businessman or woman is only a click away.
Vigorously tapping the keys of the computer is a young person busy
networking on Twitter or Facebook pushing out their latest piece of
work, whether that's a blog post, video or photo shoot promoting
their product or service.
You can find them on LinkedIn with a detailed and ambitious
profile, but don't be surprised when you realise their last job was
their college work experience - these guys are a young go-getting
bunch with the power of the internet in their hands and a nose for
success.
The face of British business is changing. It's getting younger.
Against the backdrop of the cuts, unemployment and university fees
sky-rocketing, the pot of reasons why young enterprise is vast and
will only continue to expand.
The "can do" generation has all the right ingredients to make
things happen for themselves and become financially independent:
their own creative initiative, the internet and media being some
great factors that have inspired these young people.
TV shows like The Apprentice and Dragons' Den
have over the years revealed the entrepreneurial world as
accessible and lucrative - a way out of the boring nine-to-five
students have been told they will face for the rest of their lives.
The same goes for shows like The Only Way Is Essex,
Made In Chelsea and The Hills; popular reality
shows where most of the early 20-something cast end up with some
sort of shop or product line by the end of it.
Then there are the role models: Mark Zuckerberg, or our
country's most exciting innovator Jamal Edwards (founder or SBTV,
the UK's largest youth broadcaster). They were everyday people who
now have hugely successful internet-based businesses putting the
celebrity gloss on what it means to be a young entrepreneur.
Sure, not every Tom, Dick and money-making Harry is going to be
chilling with Richard Branson in front of helicopters taking
photos, but that's ok because being in the limelight is not what
this business generation is about. It's strictly about making as
much money as possible, as young as possible.
It's an exciting time in the "youth economy" because it's only
getting started. Universities are investing more into their
entrepreneur societies with the help of organisations like NACUE.
Programmes like 02 Think Big, The Stake, Virgin Pioneers and now
spaced_ have created a platform for young people to launch their
businesses.
spaced_ (presented by Legacy Trust project
somewhereto_ and Smarta) is the first youth enterprise event that
aims to match young entrepreneurs aged 16-25 with a free London
workspace, for a minimum of six months, to start or grow their
business.
Somewhereto_ will be carefully selecting 50 promising young
business owners of the future, aged 16-25, to attend an all day
event on Wednesday 26 September in a top secret London location.
They will be treated to advice from a panel including Tim Campbell
(winner of The Apprentice and founder of Bright Ideas
Trust) and Ning Li (founder of made.com) before having 60 seconds
to pitch their business idea to space-holders from across London
for a chance to be chosen for their own London workspace.
Events like this are finally giving young entrepreneurs the
resources they need to make it happen. The most exciting part is
witnessing the support within youth culture towards young
entrepreneurs and their products. Whether its simply a retweet on
Twitter, or pressing "LIKE" on Facebook, wearing a fashionable
promotional t-shirt or buying the products and services themselves;
young people are supporting each other.
Britain's youth business culture is set to be a thriving one in
the next couple of years. We just have to keep an eye out to see
who the movers and shakers will be.
Applications to spaced_ are now open >> ENTER HERE