The countdown has begun to deadline day for young people in Newport and south east Wales to submit their Big Ideas Wales Challenge applications for the chance to be fast-tracked into starting their own business.

Youngsters aged 16 to 24-year-olds throughout Wales are being 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.

Deadline day for applications is Monday, October 5, 2015.

The challenge was launched last month at the National Eisteddfod by First Minister Carwyn Jones.

He 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.”

Young people who have started a business or are committed to starting one in the next six months can apply for the 12-month challenge, now in its third year. They can be employed, unemployed, in education or training.

The bootcamp will take place between November 13-15 in the run up to Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 16-22) and the board meetings will begin in December.

The challenge (www.BigIdeasWales.com) includes an intense weekend business bootcamp where participants will be inspired and challenged by successful entrepreneurs, followed by regular board meetings to help guide them for the 12 months.

They will also have access to business support through Business Wales and partner organisations; network with other young entrepreneurs; get coaching and challenged on their business at all stages and launch and grow their business.

Young people often have great business ideas but can often feel their age and inexperience is against them.

The challenge aims to overcome this by providing an introduction to and mentoring from established entrepreneurs who develop their confidence and skills from which to launch and grow their business.

The Big Ideas Wales Challenge is part of the Welsh Government’s Business Wales service and delivers on the Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy. 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.

In addition to Big Ideas Role Models providing mentoring, a group of Young Ambassadors made up of past challenge participants are also promoting entrepreneurship to other young people.

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