Margot James MP has pledged her support for the Youth Investment Fund.
The Youth Investment Fund, part of the Virgin Media Pioneers’ campaign, is intended to provide favourable rate loans available as start-up capital for young entrepreneurs, with the same conditions that currently exist for tuition fee loans through the Student Loans Fund. It could also be used to fund young people to study business at university for one year, and then develop their business idea during the following two years.
The Virgin Media Pioneers’ campaign, launched in March 2010, aims to help aspiring entrepreneurs build successful businesses. So far over 80,000 people have accessed resources tailored for early stage entrepreneurs and over 1,600 entrepreneurs have signed up to take part in the campaign’s online community.
Margot recently met Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, during his visit to the Houses of Parliament to discuss the Virgin Media Pioneers' campaign with MPs.
Margot said, "Many young people are finding it extremely challenging at the moment to find work, so it’s vital that we explore every possible avenue which could help tackle youth unemployment.
“Setting up your own business is a challenging prospect, as I know myself. But there are many young people with the ideas, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit necessary to be successful - so it is vital that we encourage those looking to start their own businesses, as well as those embarking on other career paths. Virgin Media Pioneers’ campaign for a Youth Investment Fund is a fantastic idea to help support our young entrepreneurs and I am delighted to back the campaign.”
Photo: Margot James with Sir Richard Branson