More success for Manchester social entrepreneur

22 May 2013

Inspirational Manchester student Christina Taylor has won the top prize in the Barclays School for Start-ups competition.

The competition gives young social entrepreneurs access to a package of business training and support that includes a year of one-to-one mentoring from a top Barclays executive, access to the Central Working hub in London to aid business growth and to Barclays Connector, an online community for the exchange of knowledge and expertise.

There is also the opportunity to attend One Young World 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa, a global forum of young leaders from around the world.

Currently studying on the Master of Enterprise programme at Manchester Business School, Christina recently won the first prize of £10,000 in the social category of the University’s Venture Further business start-up competition. Her business is called Aspire Studios – a community dance school aimed at disadvantaged children.

“The mentoring will be great and will help me decide what to do with the £10,000 prize money from the Venture Further competition,” she said.

“Also, it will be amazing to hear from influential people who have made a change to the world when I go to One Young World.”

Christina was given early approval to compete in the Barclays competition as judges felt that her application was one of the strongest. Her application consisted of documentation produced as part of her studies and the Venture Further competition, plus a 300-word piece about her business.

As one of 60 finalists, Christina successfully pitched her business idea to a panel including former Dragons’ Den star Doug Richard and Barclays’ Managing Director for UK and Ireland, Ian Stuart.

She concluded: “It means a lot to win the competition. This opportunity will help to propel my business and I am extremely happy!”