Young business talent search is launched

A project aimed at helping young entrepreneurs turn their business dreams into reality is under way for the third year.

Young Start-up Talent is the brainchild of Matt Turner, managing director of Creative Pod, a design and marketing agency, and Lorraine Nugent, managing director of Media Word Waves, a public relations agency.

The competition is open to local people aged from 16 to 25 with a flair for businesses. This year's competition began at Latest Music Bar, where both founders appeared on a panel of guest speakers, with Latest TV's Bill Smith, Natalie Evans, of 42 Juice, and Lynn Ruth Miller, the comedian.

The team behind Young Start-up is working closely with Latest TV, the city's soon-to-air Freeview TV channel, which announced filming of a six-part fly-on-the-wall documentary following the project's progress throughout the year.

It was also announced at the launch that Peter James, the bestselling author, will be joining the judging panel for the new series.

A number of former contestants were also at the launch event, including Chloe Meineck, Ricardo Mwe-Di-Malila, Henry Rogers, Natalie Evans, Sam French, and Eden Tiltman, the recently-named winner of the West Kent sister competition.

Lorraine Nugent, founding partner of Young Start-up Talent, said: 'We are thrilled to be working with Latest TV. This year is going to be very exciting for everyone involved.'

Young entrepreneurs can speak to the team and receive advice and guidance through a series of walk-in sessions and workshops to help them to develop their business.

Organisers hope that interested people will attend one of these workshops, the first being on Friday, July 4 at noon at City College Brighton and Hove's Pelham Street campus. A second session will take place on Wednesday, July 16 at Latest Music Bar in Manchester Street, from 11am.

[box type="info"] The deadline for entries is Wednesday, September 3. For more information, visit: www.youngstartuptalent.co.uk.