YOUNG entrepreneurs hoping to start a business could be given a helping hand with a start-up grant.

The Bolton News has joined forces with The Prince’s Trust to offer a potential 60 grants to the North West’s businessmen and women of the future.

The Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of Gannett Co Inc, which owns the Newsquest Media Group to which The Bolton News belongs, wants to give potential entrepreneurs a step on the business ladder. The Quartet Community Foundation, on behalf of the Gannett Foundation and Newsquest, manages the fund.

The foundation provides funding to support local organisations in the area where Newsquest operates. The grants will be available to young people in areas covered by Newsquest’s titles The Bolton News, The Bury Times, Lancashire Telegraph, and The Warrington Guardian.

About one-in-five young people in the UK are not in work, education or training. Youth unemployment costs the UK economy £10 million a day in lost productivity, while youth crime costs £1 billion every year.

The Prince’s Trust helps disadvantaged young people to get their lives back on track and boost their skills for work. Three-in-four of the young people it supports move into work, education or training.

It has helped more than 700,000 people and supports 100 more each day. Its business start-up programme began in 1983 in the aftermath of riots in cities, including Liverpool and Manchester. Since then, it has helped more than 70,000 young people to set up in business.

Ian Savage, editor in chief of The Bolton News and Bury Times, said: “We are always encouraging business through the newspaper, especially new ones set up by young people, and we’d really encourage people to consider this programme if they are thinking about setting up in business. It has the potential to transform young lives.”

The Enterprise Programme is for young people who have a business idea they want help to explore, are aged 18-30 and are unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week On a four-day intensive course they will receive advice on self-employment, help with business planning and business skills training. Young people who still want to explore their business idea after the course will apply for start-up loan funding.

If successful they will receive a low interest loan, ongoing support from a personal business mentor for a minimum of two years, and access to specialist support, including a free legal helpline.

For further details call 0800 842 842.

l Applicants will need to attend an information session. Participation in the enterprise programme does not guarantee start-up funding will be awarded. Gap-year students, graduates who have graduated within less than six months or those with post-graduate degrees or professional qualification cannot apply.