AN EXCITING opportunity has emerged for young entrepreneurs across the Southern Downs to pitch their ideas, gain invaluable business skills and lay the foundations for their future.
Southern Downs Regional Council has partnered with Toowoomba-based consulting company Strategenics, to deliver a workshop for young people in the region aged 15-24, to develop start-up skills to help ideas and innovations become alternative paths of employment.
Organised by Strategenics, and with support from the Stanthorpe and Warwick Chambers of Commerce, the INCubate Start-up Workshop will be held on Saturday 22 October from 1pm to 10pm.
The workshop will offer individuals the opportunity to pitch their product or business idea and then learn practical business skills and start-up principles such as how to develop a business model and market an idea.
Participants will work in groups to pitch selected ideas to a panel which will decide on the most promising idea.
The chosen group will then receive a business coaching session from Strategenics’ founder and managing director Chris Mills.
Southern Downs Mayor Tracy Dobie said that she hopes the workshop will be the start of a local entrepreneurial movement in the Southern Downs.
“Ask any young person what is lacking in our region and they will tell you it’s employment opportunities,” she said.
“By investing in young people to become more entrepreneurial and innovative we can build the workforce of the 21st century and ensure the next generation has the potential to become job creators.
“This project will ensure young people in our region are set up to drive new innovations and business opportunities for themselves and for our community.
“If we can better prepare young people to succeed in a rapidly changing world, the productivity and prosperity of the Southern Downs region will be assured.”
The workshop will be funded through the State Government’s Advance Queensland Young Starters Fund which has been developed specifically to help young Queenslanders turn their ideas into business plans, along with a financial contribution from the council.
Southern Downs Regional Council’s Youth Development Officer Hailey Cosh-Rickard said the council’s Community Development and Economic Development units had partnered to secure the State Government funding.
“With $7000 in funding from the Advance Queensland Young Starters Fund, the council only has to inject just over $3000 to make this initiative happen,” Ms Cosh-Rickard said.
“This is a small investment for what we hope will achieve big outcomes.”
The INCubate Start-up Workshop will offer spaces for 36 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 who reside in the Southern Downs region.
While registration has not yet opened, anyone interested can contact the Council’s Economic Development Officer Jenny Sherrin or Youth Development Officer Hailey Cosh-Rickard on 1300 MY SDRC (1300 697 372) for further information or to express their interest to participate.
