PRIME business club

If you’re over 50 and thinking about starting a business in the Bristol area, then contact PRIME about getting a mentor. PRIME has recently completed training mentors in the area, who are now ready to talk to you. This is a completely free programme.

Here’s what Harri Harrison, who is running the scheme, has to say about it:

PRIME mentoring is specifically for people aged 50+ who are just beginning to think about setting up their own business. It is about exploring initial thoughts around self-employment. It is an opportunity to have a soundingboard, to check ideas and to discover the best way of moving forward.

Somebody once described this as having ‘a critical friend’ - that’s probably a good description.

We think mentoring is most useful for people at the early stage - when thay are are just starting to think about setting up in business. But mentoring has also been used successfully in many walks of life, and is an increasingly popular learning method for personal, professional and business development.

Mentoring is popular in the business world, where talking to a mentor can be helpful to entrepreneurs as they prepare their business plans, or it help more established businesses to progress.

If you would like to find out more about this new resource, please contact Harri Harrison at harri.harrison@ace.org.uk

Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 3:00 PM
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T h e O l d e r p r e n e u r
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News for older entrepreneurs from The PRIME Initiative

Welcome to PRIME Business Club’s March 2010 newsletter.

You are receiving this entirely free because you contacted PRIME, the charity set up by Prince Charles, about starting your own business.

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In this issue
——————————————————-
1. Get a FREE business check-up

2. FREE eight day course for over-45 Londoners

3. Could you become a PRIME online mentor?

4. Newsletter controls

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1. Get a FREE business check-up
——————————————————
PRIME has teamed up with UK business set-up specialist Clever Gecko to offer our members a FREE health check for their businesses.

Business Doctor is predominately aimed at those people who have already started and would just like some advice on how they are doing. The check-up will give you an opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have but also for the Doctor to highlight issues that may not be obvious to you.

If you are still just contemplating starting your own business then Business Doctor can still help by assessing your business idea for viability

To find out more and to take up the offer go to:
www.primebusinessclub.co.uk/category/offers/

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2. FREE eight day course for over-45 Londoners
——————————————————-
The Centre for Micro Enterprise, a unit within London Metropolitan University has funding to support a small number of people over the age of 45 who want to go self-employed.

Places on the course will be offered on a first come-first served basis. You must have a London postcode to be eligible.

They are offering an eight day programme delivered one day a week over eight weeks. The course is designed to help you to develop your skills to enable you to set up your own business

To find out more go to:
www.primebusinessclub.co.uk/2010/02/26/free-eight-day-course-over-45-londoners/

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3. Could you become a PRIME online mentor?
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Have you already experienced the challenge of setting up your own business? Would you be prepared to share your experience as a PRIME mentor?

Mentoring online can be the perfect way to share your hard earned wisdom with those who can benefit from your experience and knowledge, all in an interesting online environment.

To find out more go to: www.primebusinessclub.co.uk/category/volunteer/

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4. Newsletter controls
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Copyright (c) 2010, The PRIME Initiative
Astral House, 1268 London Road, London SW16 4ER

 Could you be a PRIME online mentor?

Have you already experienced the challenge of setting up your own business? Would you be prepared to share your experience as a PRIME mentor?

Mentoring online can be the perfect way to share your hard earned wisdom with those who can benefit from your experience and knowledge, all in a supportive, safe and secure online environment.

PRIME mentors assist people in the early stages of starting a new business. The emphasis is on being a sounding board and talking through and clarifying options rather than giving business advice.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering with the UKs top mentoring website please get in contact with Harri Harrison, PRIME Mentoring Manager, harri.harrison@ace.org.uk

Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 4:23 PM

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T h e  O l d e r p r e n e u r
——————————
News for older entrepreneurs from The PRIME Initiative

Welcome to PRIME Business Club’s February 2010
newsletter. You are receiving this entirely free
because you contacted PRIME, the charity set up
by Prince Charles, about starting your own
business.

————–
In this issue
————–
1. Successful applicant gets Zopa-PRIME loan

2. Become a PRIME case study

3. Newsletter controls

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1. Successful applicant gets Zopa-PRIME loan
———————————————

Colin Bicknell, 50, from Northampton has
successfully secured a Zopa-PRIME loan of 7,120 pounds
at an interest rate of 7.88% to help start up
his energy assessment business.

PRIME has teamed up with Zopa Ltd and Bank of
America to create a peer-to-peer loan scheme to
help people aged over 50 to raise the capital to
start a business. The scheme is designed for
people over 50 who are finding it difficult to
raise money directly from a bank. It allows
someone to borrow anything from 1,000 up to
15,000 pounds - as long as they have a strong, viable
business plan.

To find out more about the scheme and to request
an information pack go to: 

www.primebusinessclub.co.uk/loan-fund

To see Colin’s listing go to the Zopa website:
http://bit.ly/d3ZrSx

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2. Become a PRIME case study
——————————
We are looking for people over 50 who have got a
successful business up and running - to be case
studies on our website. We would ask you a few
questions, and put your photograph, biography,
and a link to your business on our website.

If you would like the chance to be a PRIME case
study, please click on the link below and
complete the online application form.

www.primebusinessclub.co.uk/2010/01/29/te
ll-us-your-start-up-story-become-an-inspiration-
to-olderpreneurs

Good candidates will be confident and
charismatic, and we are particularly looking for
businesses of an unusual nature. The form gives
us a good idea of what you do, and what sort of
person you are, but don’t feel the need to write
lengthy replies. This will come later, if you
are selected for interview.

You can read case studies of fellow
Olderpreneurs here: 

www.primebusinessclub.co.uk/category/prim
e-case-studies/

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3. Newsletter controls
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To ensure that you continue to receive emails from
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Copyright (c) 2010, The PRIME Initiative
Astral House, 1268 London Road, London SW16 4ER

Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 5:58 PM

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T h e  O l d e r p r e n e u r
——————————————————-
News for older entrepreneurs from The PRIME Initiative

Seasons Greetings. Welcome to PRIME Business Club’s
January 2010 newsletter. You are receiving this entirely
free because you contacted PRIME, the charity set up by
Prince Charles, about starting your own business.

——————————————————-
In this issue
——————————————————-
1. Create-your-own-web-site in the New Year

2. VAT is going up - try our calculator

3. Read older entrepreneur success stories

4. Loads of new business, accounting and tax info

5. Newsletter controls

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1. Create-your-own-web-site in the New Year
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The New Year is a great time to try something new.
So if you have not got a website yet, now is a good time
to start thinking about it.

PRIME has teamed up with UK web-site specialist Mr Site
to offer a discount of up to 40 per cent on the
company’s simple all-in-one web-site creation
packages.

Read on…

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2. VAT is going up - try our new calculator
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With the VAT rate going up to 17.5 per cent if your
business is VAT registered you will need to change your
published prices.

The government has announced that businesses have four
weeks to amend their shelf and product labels following
the reversion to the 17.5 per cent standard rate of VAT
at midnight on 31 December 2009.

Try our free online calculator.
Read on…

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3. Read older entrepreneur success stories
——————————————————-
We have put up new case studies on the PRIME website
where you can read about the experiences of other
olderpreneurs who have gone ahead and started a
business.

Read on…

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4. Loads of new business, accounting and tax info
——————————————————-

We have completed adding over 700 pages of detailed
information especially written by the accounting and tax
experts at Practice Web. This is all free at the PRIME
Business Club website.

Among these are:

The Business start-up area

The Tax system for the self-employed

Understand what your customers want

——————————————————-
5. Newsletter controls
——————————————————-
This email was sent by prime@ace.org.uk.
To no longer receive our emails, just
send an email to prime@ace.org.uk with
UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

To ensure that you continue to receive emails from
us, add prime@ace.org.uk to your email program’s address
book to make certain they aren’t blocked.
Copyright (c) 2009, The PRIME Initiative
Astral House, 1268 London Road, London SW16 4ER

To make its material more accessible, PRIME is having its most popular booklets and guides redone as downloadable PDFs that can be printed out on ordinary A4 ink-jet and laser printers.

We are taking the opportunity of also having large-print versions made, with a minimum text size of 16 point (the industry norm is 10 and we normally use 12 point). This obviously means fewer words fit on a page, but rather than crudely blowing things up we are reflowing the text and images properly and redesigning where necessary, so the large-print versions should look as attractive as the original documents.

First to be done and downloadable immediately for free (right click with your mouse and use Save As) are these four titles.

If you need anything else from PRIME in large print just ask us. We may not be able to produce all our documents and reports in as polished a style, but we will send you something readable.

Normal size versions are also available in a version that is suitable to print. This way you save trees!

Ideas for business, a practical guide and workbook

Local business support in the uk, a directory of where to go for help for people aged over 50

Get help with finance for your business, a leaflet about PRIME’s over-50 loan scheme

Top 10 things that can kill your business, a leaflet about avoiding common business pitfalls

Working for Yourself a practical guide to sales marketing and preparing a business plan.

Media inquiries to Helen Ashley or Alan Ali  on 020 8974 7230 

Prince’s Charity launches National Olderpreneurs Roadshow to help 50+ set up their own businesses - 23 September 

Over 50s considering self-employment, or wanting to start their own business, can come along to PRIME’s Olderpreneur Roadshow which kicks off in Bristol on 23 September.

Between the ages of 50 and 65 almost 1 in 3 people are without work and almost 60% have no pension, other than the state pension to look forward to.

“With the looming pensions crisis, the shrinking numbers of people in younger age groups paying for welfare and health services, and the need to prevent older people being plunged into poverty in their later years, it’s never been more important to provide opportunities for over 50s who want to work. Yet over three-quarters of a million 50+ in the UK who want to work still face age discrimination in the job market” says Laurie South, Chief Executive of PRIME.

PRIME’s Olderpreneur Roadshow is part of a practical package of support the charity offers over 50s including a Business Club, Olderpreneur Loans Scheme and  Mentoring.

At the FREE roadshow anyone over 50 who wants to find out whether self-employment or setting up their own business might be for them, can come along. They will hear from local ‘olderpreneurs’ about their experiences, and inspirational business speaker Tom Edge, author of Age Is No Barrier. They will also be able to quiz local business support organisations and network with other 50s wanting to start up on their own.

The Roadshows will run from now until early 2010 and after Bristol, the roadshow will move to Leeds on 14 October and Manchester on 9 December. It will then be in London, Birmingham and Glasgow or Edinburgh (dates to be confirmed).

For more information and to book a place visit: www.primebusinessclub.co.uk
“The over 50s are an increasingly important part of our economy. Yet in many cases their energy, creativity, experience and sheer ingenuity is being unfairly discarded.  At least 3.5 million 50 to 65-year-olds have no work.  Over 50s who are out of work for six months after being made redundant only stand a one in ten chance of everhaving the chance to be an employee again”, says Laurie.

“The potential for economic growth partly driven by the over 50s could be a big factor in the success of the UK’s businesses and in our future.  However, they need better targeted support and guidance. Many have care responsibilities.  A significant number have a health condition or a disability. Nevertheless, flexible working and a good work-life balance can be key to the over 50s remaining in work, which is why self-employment or setting up their own business is such a good option”, says Laurie.

PRIME’s founder Prince Charles says “The experience and skills which people build up over a lifetime are an invaluable resource”, he says. “It is madness for society not to make use of this.”

Over 50s considering self-employment, or wanting to start their own business, can come along to PRIME’s Olderpreneur Roadshow which kicks off in Bristol on 23 September.

Between the ages of 50 and 65 almost 1 in 3 people are without work and almost 60% have no pension, other than the state pension to look forward to.

“With the looming pensions crisis the shrinking numbers of people in younger age groups paying for welfare and health services and the need to prevent older people being plunged into poverty in their later years, it’s never been more important to provide opportunities for over 50’s who want to work. Yet over three-quarters of a million 50+ in the UK who want to work still face age discrimination in the job market” says Laurie South, Chief Executive of PRIME.

PRIME’s Olderpreneur Roadshow is part of a practical package of support the charity offers over 50s including a Business Club, Olderpreneur Loans Scheme and Mentoring.

At the FREE roadshow anyone over 50 who wants to find out whether self-employment or setting up their own business might be for them, can come along. They will hear from local ‘olderpreneurs’ about their experiences, and inspirational business speaker Tom Edge author of Age Is No Barrier. They will also be able to quiz local business support organisations and network with other 50s wanting to start up on their own.

After Bristol, the roadshow will be moving onto Leeds on the 14th October, Birmingham on the 4th November, and Manchester on 9th December. A London date is soon to be confirmed.

“The over 50s are an increasingly important part of our economy. Yet in many cases their energy, creativity, experience and sheer ingenuity is being unfairly discarded. At least 3.5 million 50 to 65-year-olds have no work. Over 50s who are out of work for six months after being made redundant only stand a one in ten chance of ever having the chance to be an employee again”, says Laurie.

“The potential for economic growth partly driven by the over 50s could be a big factor in the success of the UK’s businesses and in our future. However, they need better targeted support and guidance. Many have care responsibilities. A significant number have a health condition or a disability. Nevertheless, flexible working and a good work-life balance can be key to the over 50s remaining in work, which is why self-employment or setting up their own business is such a good option”, says Laurie.

PRIME’s founder Prince Charles says. “The experience and skills which people build up over a lifetime are an invaluable resource”, he says. “It is madness for society not to make use of this.”

PRIME is able to offer the roadshow programme free to people over 50 thanks to the generous support of its key corporate sponsor Bank of America.

Please bear with us over the next few weeks as we make some changes to this web site. We are adding several hundred pages of practical business information to go in a new Resources section.

To make room for this new material we have re-organised the site and simplified the layout. However in the process we have broken some links, and the Site Map and Access pages won’t be accurate until we rebuild them to reflect the new content.

Meanwhile please use the Search box at top right to find things if you encounter a broken link. We haven’t deleted anything important, just moved some things around a bit - so it is still here.

Upward Curve PR has chosen PRIME as its Charity of the Year 2009 to 2010. “We are so pleased to be able to offer PRIME PR support”, says Helen Ashley of Upward Curve. “We chose them because we felt that with our aging population and the current recession, the charity’s focus is particularly relevant.”

“The over-50s face huge problems of unemployment and age discrimination in the job market. It’s great that we’ll be able to work with PRIME to help them raise awareness of these issues and let over 50s know how PRIME can help them set up on their own.”

Laurie South, PRIME’s chief executive, said “Upward Curve has exactly the right sort of experience that PRIME needs. We are now better able to help more people over 50 start in business than at any time in our history. But we need to get the message of what we can do out there and in front of people. We also need to keep support coming in, so we can scale up our services and make them available more consistently across the whole UK.”

Upward Curve PR is an award-winning PR and communications agency working mainly with clients in the public and not-for-profit sector. Based in Kingston near London it has recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, and brings this experience plus a strong ethical stance to the advice it offers.

Parents for Children (now part of TACT), an adoption charity specialising in finding homes for ‘harder-to-place’ children, was the Agency’s Charity of the Year in 2008. Edwina Brocklesby, Director of Parents for Children, said “I could not speak more highly of Upward Curve. They have transformed the potential of this agency and raised our profile beyond our wildest dreams.”

PRIME was one of 100 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups applying for the honour this year.

STOP PRESS: APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED.
PRIME is launching an innovative new loans scheme that will open to the public in early 2009. We are recruiting now for the key post of loans officer.

The successful applicant will bring experience of business loans, preferably in the CDFI sector, to the development and administration of this innovative new loan scheme for the over 50s. The post is based in our central office in South London.

Role: to develop and market, to oversee and maintain the PRIME loan process, accrediting business plans, liaising with applicants and other external stakeholders, ensuring loan targets for applicants are met: to complete constant reviews of the loan facility and to assess the effectiveness of the scheme and make recommendations on whether a supplementary and more conventional scheme is required.

You will need to be organised, able to work to tight deadlines and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, working and detailing the loan facility with colleagues who are based throughout the country.  Loan project management experience would be advantageous.

A commitment to PRIME’s objectives and values, together with some charity experience, would be advantageous.  You will be comfortable working in a dynamic, innovative and rapidly growing charity and able to use your initiative and experience to deputise for the Director of Finance where necessary.

Application requests can be sent to prime@ace.org.uk or call 020 8765 7833. Or you can download the application form and background documents below.

Application form

Job description and person spec

Please note that only applications on our application form will be accepted.
Closing date: Friday 6th February 2009
Interviews: (to be held in London) on Friday 13th February 2009.

Prince Charles describes the work of his charity PRIME and welcomes new sponsorship deal

Click on the right arrow button above to start video

I am delighted to speak to you today as the President of PRIME - the Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise.

I founded PRIME over eight years ago after receiving large numbers of letters from people aged 50 and over telling me they were workless - had been made redundant or despite their best efforts were simply unable to find employment. Many of the letters referred to the Prince’s Trust, which offers practical solutions to change young lives. Some of them had even been active supporters of the organisation. But in one form or another, they all highlighted a lack of support available to help them when they needed it most.

This seemed to me to be a tragic waste of experience, of knowledge and skill. Here were people with at least a third of their lives in front of them, left feeling excluded from mainstream employment. People who had often already contributed so much to society, and learnt so much along the way. People who simply wanted to continue giving, and to develop and achieve as economically active adults.

In response to this I felt there was something I might be able to do to help, if I brought the right people together to examine the issue.

I truly believe everyone should have the opportunity to fulfill their potential and contribute to our communities. So that is why I founded PRIME.

PRIME therefore helps people aged over 50 to get back into the labour market, re-gaining the dignity of financial independence and the satisfaction of self-fulfillment by starting their own businesses. I have been delighted to meet some of the people PRIME has helped and know at first hand there are marvellous businesses out there. PRIME currently works across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and I hope it will shortly be active in Scotland.

Now I knew when I founded PRIME that there were a large number of over 50s who were workless, but was shocked when I discovered the true scale of the issue and challenge. Standing at 2.8 million - a simply huge figure, this number is growing all the time as our society ages. This means almost one person in three between fifty and the state pension age is workless. Yet almost a million people in this age group want to work.

If just five per cent of this group started a business, we would have 50,000 new enterprises, employing goodness knows how many more people. What an enormous contribution that would be to our communities and to the United Kingdom economy,.

I cannot tell you how delighted and grateful I was therefore to hear that Bank of America has made such an admirable commitment in becoming PRIME’s key corporate partner.

The unique approach adopted by the Bank of America, that includes supporting PRIME as a whole - from back office functions right through to client facing services, means the organisation  has a secure and firm foundation for future growth. This will enable PRIME to help even greater numbers of older people establish their own businesses, and also highlight and overcome some of the issues and stereotypes working against those over 50. It will also help PRIME expand its reach across the United Kingdom, which is something I am very much looking forward to.

Now more than ever, our economy and society needs the skills and knowledge built up over so many years that older people have to offer.

I therefore hope everyone watching this will think about their friends, their relatives, neighbours and colleagues over 50 who may be

• Workless or worried about their jobs
• Living on an inadequate wage
• Or nurturing an as yet unfulfilled dream, not knowing where to go for help.

Because you too can help us to help them. You can contribute to the leadership already shown by PRIME as a volunteer, as an advocate, as a mentor or as a donor.

Please remember, those over 50 have enormous potential and a huge amount to give. I hope you will work with PRIME, Bank of America and myself to turn this potential and promise into enterprise.

(( ENDS ))

HRH The Prince of Wales recorded at St. James’s Palace, London on the 19th November 2008 describing the work of his charity PRIME.

See also:

Bank of America backs PRIME’s mission

Joint PRIME / Bank of America News Release: 27 November 2007
Embargoed until: 00.01am 1 December 2008

Bank of America and PRIME - Working Together to Support the Over 50s to Find Opportunity in Enterprise

LONDON - Research published today, commissioned by Bank of America on behalf of The Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise (PRIME), provides new insights into the realities faced by older entrepreneurs in the UK.

The research was commissioned to mark the launch of a groundbreaking £2 million three-year partnership between the Bank of America Charitable Foundation and PRIME. It aims to unlock entrepreneurialism in the over 50s in the UK by helping this group get back into employment through setting up their own businesses. The partnership will focus on helping those over 50 realise their potential, challenge direct discrimination and enable more people to capitalise on their talents.

Bank of America’s partnership with PRIME forms part of the company’s new approach to community investment in the UK, myPotential myCommunity myEnvironment^TM, that focuses on building skills, unlocking and nurturing talent and increasing entrepreneurialism in marginalised communities.

The research shows that 16 per cent of those aged 55 to 64 have considered, but not realised, their ambition of establishing their own business, with 23 per cent wanting more relevant support to help them do so.

Older entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly important to the UK economy. The number of businesses launched by people aged over 50 has increased by half over a period of 10 years and this age group now accounts for 15 per cent of all business start-ups in England and Wales¹.

“We need to see a fundamental shift in attitudes towards older people …”

Laurie South, PRIME

Laurie South, Chief Executive of PRIME said: “We need to see a fundamental shift in attitudes towards older people and society needs to be more open to the talents and invaluable experience older people can provide to the UK. Through our new strategic partnership with Bank of America, we can continue to build our organisation to provide practical and financial support to even more over 50s throughout the UK.”

As the economic downturn continues to threaten employment opportunities for older people² the need for increased support remains critical. 54 per cent of the 50+ age group currently seeking work feel that the current challenging financial environment will have a detrimental effect on their employment prospects.

The benefits of investing in the 50+ age group is underlined by research showing that 70 per cent of businesses started by people over 55 are on average still operating after six years, compared to just 19 per cent overall³.

“We are delighted to be partnering with PRIME …”

Dennis Arnum, Bank of America

“We are delighted to be partnering with PRIME on such an innovative and significant platform in the UK,” said Dennis Arnum, Bank of America Chief Operating Officer for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.  “The ageing demographic across Western Europe, and globally, brings with it significant challenges for society, governments and businesses alike. Our partnership with PRIME will create opportunities by unlocking the barriers to enterprise and releasing the entrepreneurial talent and wealth of experience within our community.”

As part of the partnership, Bank of America will also provide counselling through its employee business mentoring programme.

Each business that PRIME helps establish will provide a host of other comprehensive socio-economic benefits for the UK - including greater levels of wealth and job creation and a reduction in dependence on state benefits. Transferring one per cent of the economically inactive over 50s into self employment creates at least 25,000 new jobs and results in savings in welfare payments of £175 million⁴.

PRIME is strongly supported by the government who are working alongside the charity to realise the above benefits.

“There is no age limit on entrepreneurial spirit.”

Peter Mandelson, BERR

Secretary of State for Business Peter Mandelson said: “There is no age limit on entrepreneurial spirit. During the current economic climate it is even more vital that older people have the confidence to make their business ideas a reality.”

“We are currently working with PRIME, Business Link, Enterprise Insight and the Regional Development Agencies to make clear the business support available for older people, be it in starting a business or becoming self employed.”

- Ends -

Notes to Editors:

About the research

A full breakdown of the research referred to above is available on request.

Unless otherwise indicated, all research was gathered by GfK NOP during November 2008. This consisted of a nationally representative omnibus survey of 1,000 adults aged 16 and over. This included 472 respondents aged over 50.

1, 3 & 4 - Improving employment prospects for the over 50s, Christopher Smallwood and Linda Obiamiwe, PRIME (January 2008)

2 - Recent CIPD and KMPG research revealed that in light of the economic downturn almost one in five employers say that they are going to enforce the Government’s retirement age policy - which allows UK organisations to make workers over 65 redundant without having to provide a business reason for doing so - more vigorously. Redundancy fears haunt labour market, Chartered Institute of Personnel Development and KMPG (31 October 2008)

About PRIME

There are 3.6 million people in the UK aged 50-65 who are not in employment. Unemployed people over 50 suffer the highest long-term unemployment rate. But an estimated 800,000 people currently classed as ‘economically inactive’ could return to the work-force if barriers to employment were overcome. Of those older people who feel at a disadvantage in the job market, a staggering 81 per cent say the attitude of employers to their age puts them at an automatic disadvantage. PRIME was founded to address these issues and in 2007 helped more than 1,000 over 50s return to work.

For more information about PRIME, please visit: http://www.primeinitiative.org.uk

About Bank of America

Building on a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves, Bank of America will embark in 2009 on a new, ten-year goal to donate US$2 billion to charitable organisations engaged in improving the health and vitality of its communities. Funded by Bank of America, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation gave more than US$200 million in 2007, making the bank the most generous financial institution in the world. Bank of America approaches community investment through an international strategy called ‘neighbourhood excellence’ under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of individual communities. Through Team Bank of America, employee volunteers contributed more than 650,000 hours in 2007 to enhance the quality of life in their communities nationwide.

For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit: www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.

Reporters May Contact:

Laurie South, PRIME, +44 (0)20 8765 7833 or +44 (0)7778 271412

laurie.south@ace.org.uk

Elizabeth Wood, Bank of America, +44 (0)20 7174 4441

elizabeth.wood@bankofamerica.com

Ros Hunt, Cohn & Wolfe, +44 (0)20 7331 5442

ros.hunt@cohnwolfe.com

We are currently actively seeking more volunteer business mentors for the Black Country in the Midlands and Doncaster and Sheffield in Yorkshire. And we expect to be recruiting more mentors elsewhere at the beginning of 2009.

PRIME mentors assist people in the early stages of starting a new business. The emphasis is on being a sounding board and talking through and clarifying options rather than giving business advice.

On our existing schemes (the Black Country, Yorkshire and Northern Ireland) mentors have all been experienced business people giving a few hours a month of their time on a voluntary basis. All mentors receive some training on the counselling approach we use, and work with a PRIME mentor co-ordinator.

In the New Year we expect to start more mentoring schemes in England, but are not yet sure of the exact locations. But if you are interested please drop us a line at prime@ace.org.uk

STOP PRESS: APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED.
PRIME has obtained corporate sponsorship for four new training and mentoring posts in the North and South of England.

The training posts are full time, while the mentoring co-ordinator positions are part time (17.5 hours a week).  All the jobs will involve travel, but can be based anywhere feasible in the North or South of England.

Training Officers

To develop, organise and deliver a range of training products, such as workshops for PRIME clients and course materials. You will also help market them to potential beneficiaries and sponsors. Successful applicants are likely to have considerable experience of delivering business information and training.

There are two full-time positions, one for the North and the other the South of of England. The jobs will be home-based (for which an allowance is payable), or it may be possible to arrange a desk in a local PRIME partner organisation. Frequent travel will be required.

Job description and person spec for Training Officer

Application form for Training Officer

Closing date

Friday 5th December 2008.
Interviews: To be held on Monday the 15th of December.

Mentoring Co-ordinators

To develop a volunteer mentoring service, which we hope to extend eventually to all PRIME clients.

We are looking for two people, part-time, one based in the North and one based in the South. The job will involve recruiting, training and co-ordinating volunteer mentors for PRIME clients, initially in their early pre-enterprise phase. The successful applicants will ideally have some experience in mentoring in the context of disadvantage and self-employment.

Job description and person spec for Mentor Co-ordinator

Application form for Mentor Co-ordinator

Closing date

Friday 5th December 2008.
Interviews: To be held on Wednesday 17th December 2008.

Application requests can be sent to prime@ace.org.uk or call 020 8765 7833. Or you can download the application form and background documents from the links above.

Please note that only applications on our application forms will be accepted.