Lucy Beaumont backs young entrepreneurs
NEW VICE-PRESIDENT: Lucy Beaumont
Comedian and actress Lucy Beaumont has given her backing to a trailblazing initiative that supports enterprising young people in Hull.
The Hull-born star has become a vice-president of the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank (JCYEB), which works in partnership with Hull City Council and offer grants for young people to finance business ideas.
The initiative has gained support from educationalists, politicians and business leaders across the world.
Lucy said: “I think it’s amazing what the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank has done over the years, in particularly raising funds to support enterprising young people who were excluded from financial support during Covid-19, and giving them access to experienced mentors.
“I am looking forward to working with my fellow vice presidents to support young people in Hull, my home city, particularly in the arts."
The fund is available for people aged up to 21 in Hull, the East Riding, Malton, Norton on Derwent, Pickering, and Scarborough. It offers grants of up to £1,000 for individuals or groups who need finance to help make their idea happen.
The list of new vice-presidents also includes: Councillor Steve Wilson, chairman of the council's health and wellbeing scrutiny commission; Marc Ortmans, chair of Global Enterprise Network UK and CEO of Ideas Space Global; Lord Norton of Louth, Conservative peer, writer and academic at the University of Hull; Selebogo Molefe, founder of the Hook up Dinner and the People's Fund in South Africa; and Johanna Cloete, managing director of GEN Namibia and supporter of start-ups and scale-ups in Namibia.
Sir Nic Dakin, former Member of Parliament, principal of John Leggott College and vice-chair of Yorkshire Forward; Andy Penaluna, professor emeritus of the University of Wales and national expert on enterprise education and entrepreneurship; Sean Royce, former managing director of Retail KCOM and now CEO at Quickline Communications Limited; and Yuguo Liu, Chinese businessman and philanthropist; have also signed up.
City council leader Daren Hale said: “It is very pleasing that so many people with a wide range of experience have volunteered their support for enterprising young people in Hull.
“This support from people from across the world shows how they have faith in what Hull is doing to support young entrepreneurs through the various partnerships and networks that Hull City Council have established.
“It is particularly pleasing to see my colleague Councillor Steve Wilson and Hull-born comedian and actress Lucy Beaumont giving their support to this important work.”
Maureen Foers OBE, president of JCYEB, said: "We are delighted to have attracted so many high-profile backers for Hull's work for supporting young entrepreneurs.
“I am particularly pleased that we have secured support from Selebogo Molefe of South Africa, Johanna Cloete of Namibia, Yuguo Liu of China, and Marc Ortmans of the Global Enterprise Network, giving us international backing."