hyve has grants for business ideas of £500 for individuals living or working in Selby who want to test setting up their own social business.

The business idea must be a social enterprise – meaning it must benefit a local community – and the people behind the project informed us that you could have a business idea or a social benefit idea, and will receive support to create a social enterprise.

Joe Gardham, from hyve, said: “Everybody has an idea for a business, but most of us lack the time, money or confidence to make it reality. Our small grants will provide a little injection of cash for you to buy the necessary equipment or services to test your idea. We’re looking for 25 people in the Selby area who are interested in exploring their idea with no financial risk.”

The project comes on the back of a six-month Feasibility Study, where York-based social enterprise Social Vision explored the potential of three North Yorkshire towns to host the hyve project.

Gardham continued: “Selby is a real hotbed of social entrepreneurial activity. In our Feasibility Study we examined the local leadership, energy, assets and need in three communities; concluding that Selby is the perfect location to test this concept.”

The project will run for a year, and applications are now open. Wraparound support will include a personal business mentor, signposting, networking and masterclasses, and opportunities for additional funding to grow your idea.

Gardham finished by saying: “We are not looking for perfect business models or polished individuals. We want to work with people who feel they may not have had the opportunities or confidence to set up their own business. Regardless of your background or current circumstances, we want to hear from you if you’re sat on an idea and don’t know where to start.”

Apply Now at: www.hyve-selby.co.uk

This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, via North Yorkshire Council