The Start-up Kit: PYES

Placement Year Entrepreneurship Scheme (PYES)

Are you looking for an enterprising approach to your placement year?

If you’re thinking of taking the plunge and setting up your own business, then why not enrol on the Placement Year Entrepreneurship Scheme (PYES).
 
Business Start-up will take on the role of your employer, creating a team to help and support you and your business, so that you’re free to try out your ideas and see if they work in a real business situation.

The Placement Year Entrepreneurship Scheme offers:

  • An accredited module
  • A business advisor who will act as the employer, handling review meetings and the final appraisal
  • Access to workshops, events, competitions to help you get your business up and running
  • The opportunity to apply for ‘proof of concept’ funding, which can help you prove your idea

 

Current PYES student

Jamie Stockwell – Red Phoenix Media

Jamie, a Business and Management student has enrolled on to PYES to help develop his business Red Phoenix Media, a regional radio plugging company. The business specialises in distributing and promoting new releases from up and coming artists to national and regional stations throughout the UK, as well as promotion through music reviews in national papers & media websites.  Jamie is currently working with leading artists DJ Ironik and is developing links with Hillary Shaw Management who manage Girls Aloud & Dannii Minogue.

Through PYES Jamie is working closely with our business advisor on the legal and financial aspects of his company as well as developing his website.  He aims to carry out market research and review future trends, so he can position himself as a competitive player in his industry.

redphoenix

Visit Jamie’s website www.redphoenixmedia.com

 

 

Previoust PYES Students

In 2008/9 Gemma Holmes and Colin Tran successfully completed PYES.

Gemma Holmes – GHG Design

GHG Design

Gemma, an IT Management for Business student used the 12 month scheme to develop her web design business, GHG Design. Her services included tailor made web design, construction and development for small to medium sized businesses, and whilst on PYES she aimed to create a wider and sustainable client base, with realistic pricing and effective management.

GHG Design has been trading since August 2008.  Gemma said;

“An entrepreneurial life is rewarding yet challenging so we need support, especially in the early years.  Having a mentor through PYES gave me that extra support I needed to develop my business.  They were available as a sounding board for my ideas and helped turn them into viable business solutions.

GHG Design aims to specialise in working with young start-up businesses as Gemma understands their position, having experienced it first hand, and her business is young enough to be able to offer attractive yet realistic discounts to start-up companies.

For more information on GHG Design visit: www.ghgdesign.co.uk 

Colin Tran – Bubble Tea

Colin Tran

Colin, a Business Management student wanted to open a tea room offering Asian speciality teas and cold snacks to students and local communities in Leeds.  Colin used the PYES scheme to consider the viability of his idea and develop it into a working model.

 “My plan is to get young people interested in tea. The lifestyles of young people are not always conducive to tea drinking as it is not the kind of drink that can be consumed on the move, and competitive products are widely available” said Colin.

After spending time abroad researching his product, Colin begun writing a daily blog on self development tied in with the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, including recommendations on what fruit teas are beneficial to health.  He is currently completing his final year of study abroad and will continue to develop his business idea.

 

If you are interested in starting up your own business during your placement year, find out more about the PYES scheme by ringing 0113 812 4860 or email c.muir@leedsmet.ac.uk  

 

 

The Start-up Kit