A Manchester-based entrepreneur has pledged to help young people get started in business through his new role as an Inspirational Speaker for The Prince’s Trust.
Twelve years ago, Jamie Boyd, who lives in Castlefield, experienced a knee injury at the age of 24 that put an end to a promising career as a professional rugby player. Faced with the stark reality of finding a new calling, but with no money in the bank to start afresh, there was one organisation who offered him a lifeline: The Prince’s Trust.
A youth charity founded by His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales in 1976 – with a mission to help people aged 11 to 30 get jobs, education and training – The Prince’s Trust loaned Jamie £3,000 to get his same day courier business, Today Team, off the ground.
Fast forward to today, and Jamie’s business has a seven-figure annual turnover and a first-class reputation across the North West, with a number of customers based across Manchester city centre and Trafford Park.
“It was Henry Ford who said: ‘Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right’,” explains Jamie, who is also a member of the BNI Alchemy business chapter based at Didsbury.
“I am a big believer in the power of inspiring words, so I was delighted to accept the Trust’s kind invitation to speak to young people on the first day of each new business course.”
Jamie’s talk, delivered to a number of young people from across Greater Manchester at MadLab on Edge Street, is a ‘warts and all’ account of the highs and lows of being self-employed, as well as an insight into what motivates him.
Accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation and concluding with a Q&A session, the talk has been roundly praised by executives and volunteers at The Trust.
Melanie Hannam, Programme Executive (Enterprise and Awards), said: “Jamie provided a genuinely passionate presentation – sharing his best practices. Young people attending the course engaged really positively with his talk – enjoying a realistic and relatable story, with lots of questions to finish. We are looking forward to working with Jamie again in the near future; he is an absolute delight.”
Paul Lewis, a manager at The Prince’s Trust, added: “It’s brilliant to see young people empower their peers through their expertise, as often they are more knowledgeable than they give themselves credit for. We’re fortunate to have Jamie give his time to the Enterprise Programme; thank you Mr Boyd”
Looking ahead to future rounds of the Programme, Jamie said: “If I can help young people get started in life, then I’m all for it. I was incredibly fortunate to have a helping hand from the Trust when all other doors had been closed to me; repaying that debt of gratitude in some small way is the least I can do.”
