Rural Youth Entrepreneurship

Programme

European UnionEuropean Regional Development Fund

NI Rural Development Council (Lead Partner) Partner (NI): The Advantage Foundation Partner(Greenland): Qeqqata Trade and

Industrial Council Partner (Faroe Islands): The Research Centre for

Social development Partner (Finland): Kajaani University of Applied

Sciences Partner

Aims to contribute to local, regional, national and transnational rural economic development by stimulating latent entrepreneurial abilities among young people in Northern Ireland, Faroe Islands, Finland and Greenland.

Through transferring and adapting a successful urban enterprise programme into the rural communities by developing a bespoke ‘Rural Young Entrepreneurs’ programme (RYE) using an innovative and creative online methodology.

The up-skilling and outreach involved should increase the potential of young peoples’ entrepreneural ability in the target rural areas. In turn, this will help facilitate the development and sustainability of more vibrant indigenous rural businesses.

Rural Young Entrepreneurs ( RYE)

Overall project aim is to create an innovative online Rural Young Entrepreneurs model/service/product for developing youth

enterprise skills and business start rates in Rural areas.

Funded by Interreg Northern Periphery Programme (funding across all partner areas)

Total budget of approx. euro. 900,000

December 2011 – March 2014

Outputs

Where are we now? Completion of Work Package 2 – “Context Mapping” Start of Work Package 3 – model design

Reason:• Clarify idea• Prepare them

for business plan & business start

Business Action Plan includes:• Market• Customers• Products &• Services• Costs &

Pricing• People

Reason:• Further

Development • Highlight

potential high growth areas

Methods include:• Growth sectors• Research &• Guidance• Mentoring• Int. Networking• Local Support

Reason:• Inspiration• Challenge

(“Can I be an entrepreneur?”)

• Understanding

Methods include:• Role models• Motivators• ‘Day in life’

features• Forums

Reason:• Promoting the

choice of enterprise

• Culture change

• Awareness of programmes

Methods include:• 3rd party

agencies• Direct

Marketing• Media• Social Media• Workshops

Web Based Interactive Tool / Backend Support

Outreach Pre Start Modular Support

Business Action Plan

Signpost for further

development

Checklist #1 Business Action PlanChecklist #2Register for programme

Model of Delivery

Interactive Web Service

Peer to peer mentoring Group work / forum discussions General mentoring Dedicated / specific / tailored info Instant access Ownership Business assessment tools

‘The Website’

An information resource covering: Forum (Peer to Peer mentoring) Business Information Bank Video case studies Examples of methods moving traditional industry Information factsheets Growth Industries Explained Mentoring