The Maple Project: Bringing Young People into the Conversation
Last week, YEA’s Paul Herman and Lauren Smithie headed to the House of Commons for The Maple Project Reception, joining a group of people and organisations working to make entrepreneurship more accessible and tackle the barriers created by economic deprivation.
As members of The Maple Project Steering Committee, we’re proud to be part of these conversations and to help bring young people into the picture.
At YEA, we spend a lot of time thinking about what it takes for a young person to see themselves as an entrepreneur. Sometimes, it starts with something quite simple: being encouraged to share an idea, meeting someone who has built their own business or realising that entrepreneurship isn't just for a certain type of person.
We see it through our work with schools and young people. If you give someone the space to be creative, the confidence to have a go and the opportunity to learn from people who have been there before, you might be surprised by what they come up with.
But not every young person gets these experiences. Access to entrepreneurial education, business networks and relatable role models can look very different depending on where you grow up and the opportunities available to you.
That's what makes the work of The Maple Project so important. Its focus is on identifying and dismantling the barriers to entrepreneurship caused by economic deprivation, helping to ensure that background doesn't determine who gets the chance to pursue an idea or build a business.
The reception was an opportunity to hear about the progress being made, connect with others working towards the same goal and look at what's next for the project.
For us, that work needs to start early. Young people shouldn't have to wait until they're adults to explore entrepreneurship. They should have the chance to develop their ideas, build practical skills and discover what's possible while they're still at school.
We are excited to continue this work and are looking forward to seeing the opportunities it opens for the next generation.
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