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Apprentice star and top entrepreneur Ruth Badger will be taking time out of her busy schedule this week to offer business advice to a group of unemployed Manchester teenagers.

The four young people taking part are currently on an Entry to Employment course in Salford run by Nacro.

The programme is aimed at 16 to 18 year olds who have achieved few or no qualifications and are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Over a 22 week period, the group are being given training and qualifications in areas such as literacy, numeracy and personal development.

As part of course they spend several hours a week setting up their own business with help from education charity, Young Enterprise. They are now in the early stages of launching their own anti-knife crime t-shirt business.

The budding entrepreneurs are hoping to get valuable advice from Ruth, who runs a business consultancy and the Ruth Badger Academy in Salford.

Nacro coordinator, Joanne Brookes runs the Entry to Employment course. She says: “This project has been a brilliant experience for the young people we work with.

“They’ve learned about every aspect of setting up a business from coming up with creative ideas, to budgeting and marketing. It’s really helped develop their confidence and they’re so excited about meeting Ruth so they can speak to someone with such an impressive track record.”

Ruth says: “I’m really impressed by the work Nacro and Young Enterprise are doing in Salford to give young people the opportunity to do something positive with their lives. I think it’s important to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit, so I’m pleased to be able to offer any advice and encouragement I can.”

This partnership project between Nacro and Young Enterprise is funded by The Home Office Community Fund, which supports voluntary organisations that demonstrate successful approaches to diverting young people at risk of committing crime.