THE Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for York and North Yorkshire is developing an enterprise programme to help young people start their own business.

The LEP is working with Youth Enterprise Services and will be talking to Colleges and Sixth Forms across the region about the best way of delivering the programme locally to people aged 16 to 30.

Dr Ruth Smith, Managing Director of PM Management Consultants and a LEP board member, said: "This programme will enable young people to see that starting your own business is an achievable aim, providing them with an excellent foundation for a sustainable career and helping develop their employability skills, which employers repeatedly identify as the most important skills need."

The Chair of Youth Enterprise Services (YES), Martin Hathaway, said: "We are delighted that the LEP has taken this opportunity to support our regions future entrepreneurs. Starting a business is a real career option for many young people and this programme will allow YES to give the support to these businesses that will really make a difference in their early years of trading."