Lord Young opens Telford Enterprise Hub
A Shropshire couple have been praised by a former Government Minister for “giving” a new office building to help young unemployed start their own businesses.
Philanthropists Graham and Jenny Wynn, who run the successful specialist driver training organisation, the TTC Group, were thanked by Lord David Young for a £250,000 donation which has helped create Telford Enterprise Hub.
It will offer rent free office accommodation in Hadley Park, Telford, to the under 24’s who will be supported by existing firms and mentored in how to run a successful business.
As he officially launched the hub, Lord Young said: “Congratulations Graham and Jenny Wynn for this building. It’s wonderful and is going to give a tremendous advantage to people starting their own business.”
Lord Young, who was Minister for employment and trade and industry in Margaret Thatcher’s government in the 1980’s, recently introduced start-up loans for young people to launch their own business.
Telford Enterprise Hub will give the under 24’s rent free workspace, teach them skills in running their own firms, provide a network of business people to work with and get ideas from, and help them succeed.
“Working for yourself is more satisfying than working for some idiot who won’t do what you tell them to do,” said Lord Young, who established a number of successful businesses and is now an advisor to David Cameron on small business enterprise.
“In 30 years Telford will be very different because of this building and because of the public spiritedness of the founders Graham and Jenny Wynn.”
Young Shropshire businesswoman Katie Smith (18), set up Tastes Marvellous less than a year ago to deliver food items to ex pats across the world. She already employs two staff and said: “If you want to start your own business, just do it. Don’t wait, do it now.”
TTC Group Chairman Graham Wynn said it was all about “giving something back” to the community.
“The self employed young people of today will be the employers of tomorrow,” he said.
Group Managing Director Jenny Wynn said the TTC Group and all the employees had an ethos to help others. It was important to get young people out of unemployment so that they could lead useful lives.
“We want to support young people. They are our future,” she said.
Hub director Fay Easton said the landmark project was open to everyone including lone home workers, firms wishing to downsize as well as young people with a business venture.
Anyone interested in knowing more about Telford Enterprise Hub should call 01952 677230 to view the hub and receive an information pack or email Lorraine@enterprisehubnetwork.com
