Business

YOUNG MUM SETS UP OWN PRODUCTION COMPANY

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17 February 2011

Twenty-seven-year-old Makalla Robotham from Rotherhithe was out of work for almost two years, before getting help from The Prince’s Trust to set up her own music video production company.

With a young daughter to look after, Makalla struggled to get by on Jobseeker’s Allowance and started to worry about her future.

She said: “Being unemployed was a really difficult experience. I applied for so many jobs, but people just weren’t willing to give me a chance. The longer I was out of work, the more difficult it became. I felt like I was stuck in a rut and didn’t know how to get out of it.”

Eventually, Makalla decided that the only way to get back to work was to set up her own business and create her own job. She had studied media production at university and dreamed of starting a video production company, but didn’t know where to start.

With her friend Kofi Owusu, she approached The Prince’s Trust for help. The youth charity runs an Enterprise Programme, which provides practical advice and mentoring support to young people looking to set up a business.

With the help of The Prince’s Trust, Makalla and Kofi set up UK Poet Productions, a music video production company that focuses on up-and-coming artists.

They took part in a four-day enterprise course run by The Prince’s Trust and were awarded a start-up loan and business mentor.

Today, UK Poet Productions is a successful new start-up, and Makalla and Kofi are looking forward to seeing the business grow in 2011. Makalla said: “My life has completely changed. With the help of The Prince’s Trust, I am now doing the job I have always dreamed of and am excited about the future.”

Other opportunities for young people
Unemployed people will be able to access thousands of new volunteering and training opportunities, to help them take their first steps back into work - under new plans unveiled by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith. Under the scheme, advisers from youth charity The Prince’s Trust and other local government voluntary organisations will be located in Jobcentre Plus (JCP) offices, to signpost jobseekers of all ages to volunteering and training opportunities in their area.

Dozens of City firms will offer paid internships to A-level students this summer, it was announced last week.
A total of 35 businesses are expected to be involved in the City of London Business Traineeship scheme, for pupils from Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lambeth, Camden, Islington and Westminster.
The project is funded by the City of London Corporation. Students will work in the finance, HR and communications departments of establishments including JP Morgan, Lloyd's of London and the Bank of England.

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