We help people to start and grow a business

Issue 3

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Say hello to the Shropshire Youth Support Trust.

Newsletter

We can help any business...

Creative Services Food Producers

Retail Designer-Makers Financial Services

TradespersonBusiness Services Legal Services

Whatever your dream,we can help get you started.

The Chairman’s Statement

• We have supported 94 people who have registered with us as

“SYST ASYSTED” Businesses since Jan 2016 with 10

businesses currently occupying space at our Enterprise Centres.

Seven businesses have successfully relocated away from our

Centres having taken on incremental business.

• We have now taken on 2 part time administrators and hoping

to increase one to full time.

• We have provided advice and support to over 447

individuals via SYST organised 1-2-1 meetings, workshops,

clinics and group training sessions.

• We now have 25 mentors and 7 Established Shropshire

Businesses as Founder ASYSTORS all from various

backgrounds with specific expertise’s supporting our “SYST

AsSYSTed businesses.

• We have raised over £130,000 from the private sector to

finance SYST operations.

The Shropshire Youth Support Trust (SYST) commenced operations in October 2015 at The SYST Enterprise Centre in Telford Town Centre having appointed Richard Nuttall as

the SYST Centre Manager.

Its main aim is to address challenges that people from less privileged backgrounds,

typically face when starting a business.

The Trust’s primary task is to provide to aspiring young Shropshire-based

entrepreneurs subsidised space inclusive of services alongside mentorship, advice and

workshops enabling them to transform fledgling ideas into successful and sustainable

businesses.

In addition, and with the support of our Partners, SYST looks to support people who

are unemployed, under employed or refused help from conventional sources, in various

aspects of entrepreneurialism via workshops and training sessions both in the SYST

Enterprise Centre and with Partner organisations around Shropshire.

• We hope to increase the number of businesses occupying

SYST Enterprise Centres and also increase the number of “SYST

AsSYSTed” business that we support on an ongoing basis.

• We hope to organise more inspirational workshops and clinics

both within our Enterprise Centres and with more

Partner organisations.

• We need to raise awareness of SYST activities to potential

business start-ups, Shropshire’s corporate World, and its

financial supporters.

• We hope to find from Shropshire established businesses,

more ASYSTORs and Mentors that can be specifically

allocated to support SYST businesses.

• We would like to open a SYST Enterprise Centre in

Shrewsbury.

The Aims andActivities of

the ShropshireYouth Support

Trust

What has The Shropshire YouthSupport Trust achieved so far?

The Future

When you need to make that next step … a brand new

level of support is now ready and waiting with our

Mentoring and Money Scheme.

The ASYSTORS are a group of seven locally-based

Shropshire companies with a passion to help young

people like you succeed with your business vision.

The ASYSTORS offer assistance, mentoring and money.

They have grouped together to provide a mix of expertise

and funding to help young people already thriving under

the existing SYST scheme, to meet their ambitions to go

further.

Imagine a friendly Dragon’s Den style of support. A

panel with proven business experience, enthusiasm and

the widest range of skills to listen about your business

and help plan what it needs to go forward and where

appropriate, provide financial support to help take it

there.

Mentoring and Money

If you are already a SYST ASYSTED Shropshire entrepreneur, you may be eligible to apply for this exciting new scheme. Find out more by contacting SYST on 01952 299214 or email us at: hello@systbusiness.co.uk

Centres & Partners

SYST believe in getting the right support to you, therefore we work with partner organisations such as Standguide, Princes Trust, Young Enterprise, Ryman Enterprise Challenge, Wavelength, Careers and Enterprise Company, Local Colleges, Job Centres and employment agencies, Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire Councils, FSB, Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, Local Universities, community, support groups and more… We work with our partners in a number of ways including referrals to each other and the delivery of clinics and 1-2-1 sessions at partner organisations. We also work with partners to offer them space, additional support and resources at our SYST Enterprise Centres and invite them to deliver support to our ASYSTED Businesses.

“I’m very passionate about helping young people and also helping businesses develop. Running our Enterprise Centre has now given me the opportunity to combine both passions into one”.

Richard Nuttall, SYST General Manager

The SYST Enterprise Centres in Telford and North Shropshire provide the space and support for young people to create a job for themselves, maximising their business and personal potential, leading to financial independence. Our first centre located at Telford Town Centre has great accessibility via local bus and train station (both are within walking distance) and there is ample parking if anyone comes to the centre via car.

Our second centre is located at the British Ironworks Centre near Oswestry, giving us a good base to cover North Shropshire as it is located on the A5 which makes it easy to get to via car. We also have our SYST Hub located at University Centre Shrewsbury, Guildhall, where we hold workshops, 1-2-1 meetings and our ASYSTOR Mentoring and Money panel sessions. Our centres and hubs boast shared workspace areas, conference/workshop rooms, meeting rooms/space, incubation units, hot desks, Pop-up retail space and Wi-Fi.

The SYST Enterprise Centres

Partners

Success Stories

Sally Sparrow Photographer

Freelance beauty, fashion and editorial photographer

I am a self-taught photographer who has been experimenting with the medium for 10 years. I am constantly striving to create more interesting and unique images with the help of models, designers, make-up artists and hairstylists.

I have achieved several front covers and full page spreads in a range of magazines, including being published online for Vogue Italia. SYST have helped me to finally be able to afford my own studio space. They are also only an email or phone call away if I have any problems or need advice, which for a

self-employed person is so rare!

Normally you feel you are alone but Richard and the SYST team

truly make you feel you are supported. They have also

offered me a selection of clinics and workshops to push my career further and help me develop a more business mind. I look forward to what I can accomplish this year.

The Cosplay Forge Cosplay Retail

We started operating as The Cosplay Forge in May 2017, selling a range of hard to find Cosplay materials from around the globe.

Along with our continually expanding range, we have since expanded into Public and Corporate commissions through our in-house commissions department VEXED Cosplay and props. We run Cosplay repair for numerous Cosplay events across the UK and now with the help of Showmasters are running interactive workshops to help people transition into Cosplay.

We are hugely grateful for everything that SYST have done to support us on our journey so far and look forward to continuing to work with them as we grow our business.

Alex Archibald, Founder of Smuvee Fresh, clean, nutritious protein-filled foods

Smuvee came to life because of the sheer demand for a product that combines both food and fitness; two things that we are incredibly passionate about. My friend and I realised that there was a real gap in the market for good protein filled food that we could consume when we leave the gym, and so, after coming back from the middle east with nothing to lose, I took it upon myself to fulfil a long held dream. Moving forward, we have now prepped over 6,000 meals and counting for our clients! We are grateful for this milestone.

SYST has been key to my journey so far. I came to SYST and approached Richard before I started my business and, with a lack

of people to go to within the area, I found Richard enormously helpful; building relationships with the correct people is essential and Richard helped me connect with like-minded and well situated people within the area. I believe strongly in the ethos of SYST and I hope to see them grow to their full potential.

Gary W Matthews Fine Art and Portrait Artist

I am a Shropshire based artist working from my home studio. I mainly produce original figurative artworks and portraits.

I met Richard Nuttall at a jobs fair in Shrewsbury where he told me about SYST and the benefits to me as an artist of being an ASYSTED business.

I have been supported by SYST in helping develop my business in a number of ways. I have attended lectures on marketing and received individual expert advise on how to reach customers. Thanks to SYST I now have a Business mentor from Good2Great. I have also been put in touch with The British Ironwork Centre who, as well as providing me with a space to display my work for a few days, also commissioned a large portrait of the actor Roger Moore as 007. I look forward to working with SYST in future and can heartily recommend them.

To read more Success Stories visit our website today www.systbusiness.co.uk

Isaac Perren, Founder of Natural Switch

As individuals in the UK we are currently seeing an increase in the amount of people who live unhealthy lifestyles through simulated diets and artificial products. 75% of these people want to live healthier, more natural lives. Natural Switch was created to integrate natural ways of living into our daily lives. I aim to revolutionise the way we look at our health and environment as individuals. I hope to pioneer the development of natural ways of living through the innovative design of the Natural Lifestyle programme and products. The online retail store currently holds over 300 Natural, organic and vegan products that are available for purchase in the UK and the switch program has already helped 20 individuals find alternative ways to create a healthier future for themselves and their families. I hope to continue on this journey and with your help be able to inspire many more on a larger scale.

Working with Richard and the team at SYST has been a consistent pleasure. They have helped me grow my business in ways I would have never thought possible and supported me when no one else could help. An experience like no other.

SYST currently offer free workshops and clinics in our SYST Enterprise Centres in Telford and North Shropshire and cover a range of topics such as: Web and Digital Marketing, Health and Safety for Business, Social Media, Business Start-Up, Branding, Start-Up Seminars, Targeting Potential Markets and Customers, Body Language and more...

We also deliver 1-2-1 assessments and clinics from our Enterprise hub in Shrewsbury.

Our Business Clinics are designed to be different from a standard workshop format so that our ASYSTED Businesses get vital 1-2-1 time, usually up to an hour, with the expert on that particular subject.

As well as delivering our workshops in our building our General Manager and SYST team also deliver workshops and information sessions at Job Centres, Colleges and partner organisations in Shropshire including Shrewsbury College, Telford College, JCP’s Telford, Shrewsbury, Whitchurch, Oswestry & Bridgnorth.

SYST Events, Clinics and Workshops

Entering the world of business for the first time can be scary and mysterious, particularly if setting up on

their own. A person may be incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about the product or service

they want to deliver but not sure about other aspects of running a business. Many start-ups

may feel that only they understand what they want to do in their business or are too proud to ask for assistance.

A good mentor can help someone just by talking through their idea and giving them confidence in what they want to do. A mentor might be someone who can advise on a specific aspect of running a business.

So whether a person needs help with finances or marketing, or even just someone

to bounce ideas off, for them to have access to a mentor who can offer advice and

guidance is invaluable.

SYST Mentors

Every Start-up needs

at least one good Mentor

SYST Mentors

• Have a meaningful Business concept/idea;

• Attend 2 SYST workshops or equivalent

(within previous 6 months);

• Completing the SYST Registration Form

• Agree to attend Follow up session with SYST

staff or Mentors

• 18-30 years old and/or;

• Unemployed and/or;

• Under-employed and/or;

• Refused help from conventional sources

• Use of the “ASYSTED Business” logo to promote

your business;

• SYST Mentor to be assigned to your business

via ASYSTOR Programme;

• Assistance with Business Plans/planning and

provision of templates and information;

• Access to Finance via SYST ASYSTOR

programme and/or SYST Partners/Affiliates;

• FREE clinics and workshops on business themes

• FREE access to networking events and

exhibitions and Fayres;

• Access to subsidised pop up retail, office, work

and desk space

• Access to free Virtual PA/phone answering

service (3 months’ free trial);

• Marketing Support via: FREE page on SYST

website; Free promotion via SYST social media &

partners

• Free logo design available (limited availability -

ask us for more info)

Benefits of

being a

SYST ASYSTED

Business

Eligibility criteria for being

a SYST ASYSTED Business

• Put something meaningful back in the community for young, local people.

• Demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibilty

(CSR) with use of ASYSTOR logo on your website.• 100% of funds donated will go to aspiring ASYSTED businesses

• You sit on the ASYSTOR Panel that determines the merits of applications from Asysted businesses and makes awards.• You or members of your management team can

provide mentoring to ASYSTED businesses as required.

• Your company name and logo on the SYST website

which links to your website. • Your company name and logo on all publicity and social media generated by awards.

Benefits for ASYSTORs

Become a Founder ASYSTOR

Invest in young entrepreneursInvest in the local economy

Invest in the future

Make a difference

All other donations in excess of £500 will be acknowledged with thanks on the SYST

website as an Associate Asystor.

get in touch today www.systbusiness.co.uke: hello@systbusiness.co.ukw: systbusiness.co.uk

@systbusiness

A charitable donation of £2500 enables you to be a “Founder ASYSTOR”

The Trust is seeking Sponsors to provide direct support to “SYST ASYSTED” businesses. Without exception new businesses require financial support either to acquire essential equipment to undertake the newly formed business or to provide cash to finance working capital for the business

Room SponsorshipThe Trust would welcome sponsorship of the Reception Room, the Meeting Rooms and any incubation units at The SYST Enterprise Centres.

t: 01691 754 014 - North Shropshire01743 817 114 - Shrewsbury01584 560 914 - South Shropshire01952 299 214 - Telford