YOUNG entrepreneurs aged 16 and over are already making money and working for themselves thanks to iTrust. iTrust is a joint venture between Barnsley College and the Barnsley Chronicle, which nurtures young entrepreneurs from across the borough with a view to creating the next generation of business leaders in Barnsley.
The project held an open day at Barnsley College to showcase its first group of grant recipients and to encourage other youngsters with a business idea to come forward and seek advice.
Businesses at the open day had all approached iTrust with a viable idea that demonstrated long-term earning potential, and were given a mentor and a £250 grant to start their enterprise.
Seventeen year-old Barnsley College student Muna Suleiman set-up henna art business Henna4all, with support from the project.
After receiving advice and investment business is booming for Muna: she is the only henna artist in Barnsley and unusually covers all styles of pattern.
A similar success story is 16 year-old Bethany Wood of old town, who founded fashion accessories business Loving Dot.
She received an iTrust grant as well as a mentor from fashion business ASOS, to help her market her phone cases, pocket mirrors and logo design service via social media.
"My mentor has been great," she said. "I've made back my £250 grant already."
Other individuals who have received support from iTrust are 22 year-old Charlotte Kaye of Charlotte Elizabeth Photography, and 28 year-old David Chatwood of Diddy David Digital.
Rubina Rashid, head of enterprise at Barnsley College, said: "Everyone who has received a grant has had to prove that their business is sustainable beyond 12 months.
"The number of start-up businesses in Barnsley is quite low. This is a big problem and as a college we're trying to address that.
"These businesses are making in-roads into the local economy and one day they might well be employing other local people."
