Business Advance is an extension of The King’s Trust’s Enterprise programme, which helps young people from all walks of life, including disadvantaged communities, to launch their own businesses by equipping them with the confidence, skills and funding they need to do so.

It is a comprehensive package of support designed to increase the help available to young entrepreneurs as they navigate the early years of running their business, and provides access to a designated mentor, structured business reviews to track progress against targets and ambition, workshops and networking opportunities.

The Scotland roll-out of Business Advance follows a successful pilot in the Midlands in England, in which more than 100 young people took part, with 90% confirming it helped to increase their business confidence.

It will help young Scottish entrepreneurs like Rebecca Campbell to grow their business. Earlier this year, Rebecca launched a bridal hairstylist and makeup business, Rebecca Hair and Bridal, with the help of The King’s Trust. Rebecca services clients at venues across Central Scotland, providing a range of services from hair cutting, colouring and bridal hair and makeup.

Commenting on the launch of Business Advance, Rebecca said: “The King’s Trust was instrumental in helping me grow my business into what it is today. They supported me in creating a business plan and turning that plan into a reality. I am keen to keep developing and grow my business, and the opportunities for support through Business Advance sound invaluable. I already have plans for a bridal shoot in January and will be collaborating with venues, wedding dress stores and photographers before the 2025 wedding season starts.”

LDC first partnered with The King’s Trust in 2019 to support the Enterprise programme and has so far helped more than 4,400 young people to turn their dreams into reality. Business Advance is funded through the multi-million-pound partnership and has been created with the support of an advisory board consisting of LDC’s employees.

Gareth Marshall, Partner and Head of Scotland and the North East of England at LDC, said: “Young entrepreneurs play a vital role in the economy, both here in Scotland and across the UK. They inject fresh ideas and perspectives into the market, create job opportunities and help to drive economic growth. To help them grow and sustain their businesses, it’s important that we give them the tools, skills and funding to achieve this, and being able to extend Business Advance to help young entrepreneurs across Scotland is something we’re incredibly proud of.

“At LDC, we have more than 40 years of experience in helping management teams across the UK to drive growth and realise their ambitions, and our partnership with The King’s Trust is an important part of extending that commitment to young entrepreneurs from different backgrounds.”

Jonathan Townsend, UK Chief Executive of The King’s Trust, added: “Since 1983, we’ve helped more than 91,000 young people to start their own businesses and the UK-wide roll-out of Business Advance takes the support we can offer even further. It’s a flexible, broad-ranging programme that will help young entrepreneurs to go on and grow their businesses in those crucial early years after launching.  

“It wouldn’t have been possible without the support and expertise of LDC. They are one of our biggest supporters at The King’s Trust and together we’re excited to help more young entrepreneurs to maximise the potential of their businesses.”

LDC is the leading supporter of The King’s Trust Enterprise programme and its partnership is designed to inspire the next generation of UK entrepreneurs. It has contributed towards a more diverse group of future business leaders, as a quarter of the young entrepreneurs supported to-date are from ethnic minority backgrounds and more than half are female.