Wales’ First Minister, Carwyn Jones has launched an ambitious challenge to attract and fast-track more young people from Newport and south east Wales into starting their own businesses.

Those aged 16 to 24 will be targeted and encouraged to apply for a place on the third Big Ideas Wales Challenge, one of the largest campaigns of its kind driven by the Welsh Government as part of its Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy.

Mr Jones said: “Wales is a nation of entrepreneurs. Our communities are home to businesses small and large established by people who had that initial big idea and had the confidence to make it into a success.

“We can build on that by encouraging our young people to realise their potential – a potential they might not have considered as a business opportunity. With the right mentoring and inspiration their future can be transformed and the Big Ideas Wales Challenge is an opportunity to do just that.”

Applications for the challenge close on October 5. The bootcamp will take place on November 13-15 in the run up to Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 16-22) and the board meetings will begin in December.

The Big Ideas Wales Challenge is part of the Welsh Government’s Business Wales service and delivers on the Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy (YES). The Big Ideas Wales campaign is part funded by the European Regional Development fund to encourage young people to be more entrepreneurial and help those interested in starting a business take their ideas forward.

Applications for the Big Ideas Wales Challenge are available at www.BigIdeasWales.com.