Reflections on Our Dragons Den Event: Empowering Entrepreneurs with Lived Experience
The event, held at the Financial Times offices in London, showcased the incredible journey of three entrepreneurs: Jody, Adetola, and Benjamin. These individuals, selected from our bootcamp programme, presented their business ideas and growth plans to a distinguished panel, chaired by Tony Adams MBE.
Our bootcamp is an intensive support programme designed for entrepreneurs with criminal justice lived experiences. It includes one-to-one support, masterclasses, microgrants, and access to our enterprise club. We run similar bootcamps for other client groups, such as the long-term unemployed and young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
Key Insights from Our Enterprise Bootcamps and Dragons Den Events
Intensive support can drive success
Our Wheel of Change model is critical for retaining and developing the confidence of our clients. Many of them face chaotic lives and challenges ranging from financial to housing problems. Combining technical expertise with patience and pastoral support is essential.
Role models can inspire confidence
Business mentors can significantly change behaviours, raise confidence, and improve resilience. Having role models who have successfully navigated similar paths can be incredibly inspiring.
Funding needs to improve
Existing public sector funding for self-employment or enterprise work is very limited and often not targeted at underserved groups. These models typically do not allow for patient support and are too narrowly performance-managed, focusing on outputs rather than long-term outcomes.
Corporate partners bring huge value
Partners like the Financial Times bring substantial value, including pro bono support in marketing and legal advice, as well as free venue space. Corporations, often founded by entrepreneurs, can provide inspiration and practical support to the entrepreneurs we are nurturing.
Industrial sector support needs to change
Some sectors need to be more supportive of self-employment and business startups as legitimate models for job creation, rather than using them as a non-PAYE workforce to save national insurance and not paying the Living Wage.
The stepping stone effect helps to give back
Self-employment can serve as a stepping stone to employment, further or higher education, or apprenticeships. It offers a pathway to stability and growth for individuals who might otherwise struggle to find traditional employment.
What comes next for enterprise support
Our experience with running Enterprise Bootcamps and Dragons Den events has reinforced the importance of tailored, intensive support for entrepreneurs from underserved backgrounds. By leveraging insights from these events, we aim to continuously improve our programmes and create more opportunities for our clients to succeed.
We are committed to advocating for better funding models and increased support from various sectors to ensure that self-employment and entrepreneurship are viable and sustainable paths for all. With the continued support of our corporate partners and dedicated mentors, we look forward to empowering more entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams.
Stay tuned for more updates on our upcoming events and success stories!
If you are an investor or corporation that wants to get involved with our entrepreneurs and enterprise programmes, get in touch.