The Dundee E3 team was featured in the Courier this week, with the article appearing below, and here: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business-environment/business/3264488/dundee-e3-grants-start-ups

 

A new Dundee group is offering young people £300 to have a go at starting a business.

Dundee E3 has 20 grants to give to people aged between 18 and 30.

The Give It A Go programme is for people to test the market with a business idea.

As well as funding, people can also access free digital training and expert 1:1 mentorship.

Edith Adam from Dundee E3 explains: “It’s for people right at the start of their journey who want to give business a go and need a little amount of money to start.

Dundee E3 is helping local artist Neovi Wales
Dundee E3 is helping local artist Neovi Wales and has grants available for young Dundonian entrepreneurs.

“We’ve already assigned eight of the grants. Recipients include a games developer, fashion designer, artists and someone looking to start sewing workshops for children.

“The main criteria is it’s for people at the very start, whose business is not even registered with HMRC. We are still looking for more people to come forward.”

What is Dundee E3?

The project’s aim is to offer free guidance and support to businesses at the heart of local communities.

The goal is to drive skills development, increase business start-up rates and deliver job creation opportunities.

It is being delivered by Elevator, which also runs business accelerator courses and Business Gateway services in Dundee and Perth.

The support can take the form of skills courses – but could also be help with brainstorming or even just giving encouragement.

Dundee E3 is particularly targeting the Lochee and Stobswell areas.

Business enablement manager Kate Clark said: “The team works out of Lochee and Arthurstone Libraries two days a week.

Dundee E3 business enablement manager Kate Clark.
Dundee E3 business enablement manager Kate Clark.

“We can also travel directly to clients anywhere in Dundee in our mobile support van.

“We are engaging directly within the community to supply guidance tailored to the individual.

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Dundee businesses helping young entrepreneurs

Already several Dundee businesses have benefitted from E3 since it launched at the start of the year.

These include 4 Seasons Carpets, goalkeeping coach Calum Brodie, coaching business Get Set Yeti and self-employed artist Neovi Wales.

Kate said some of the existing businesses are now helping the young entrepreneurs coming forward through the grant scheme.

“We’ve had fantastic support from existing business owners who we have been able to team with our clients to offer their own insights.

Dundee E3 supports Calum Brodie with his goalkeeping school.
Dundee E3 supports Calum Brodie with his goalkeeping school.

“The willingness to support these start-ups has been heart-warming.

“We are meeting people who have fantastic business ideas.

“They just need that early support and encouragement to take them to the next level.

“We’re delighted to be playing a part.”

Dundee E3 has funding from UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund.

It gave Elevator £2.8m to work across Aberdeenshire, Dundee, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire.