Government programme 'could boost business start-ups'

Date: 25th September 2009

'Flying Start', one of the government's schemes for graduates, could result in more young people starting their own business, a specialist recruitment agency has said.

The Graduate Recruitment Bureau (GRB) said that future entrepreneurs provided "seeds of growth for UK Plc", but warned that the scheme would not be suitable for everybody.

David Lammy, the minister for higher education, announced a further £1 million investment into Flying Start yesterday.

This extra funding will allow 5,000 recent graduates to attend a one-day event providing guidance on business start-ups.

The youngsters will themselves register their interest in self-employment or an internship with an existing firm, with the government to then offer them support and guidance over the next 12 months.

Dan Hawes, co-founder of the GRB, commented: "The government is obviously keen to keep the unemployment figures down and [has] several initiatives to help graduates into work which is a good thing, however it is not suitable for everybody so I would advise not relying on their support entirely."

He added: "Graduates with entrepreneurial flair definitely need to be harnessed to provide the seeds of growth for UK Plc."

Flying Start was originally launched in 2004.