rossjukes started this topic @ 10:21 on 14/09/2006
Hi, I have just been refused a "Test Marketing Grant" from the Princes Trust on the basis that I am "Too well educated"? Although I fit every other criteria including being broke, living in a so called "deprived" are of Birmingham and not being able to source the funds easily by other means. This seems like an odd reason to me? Has anybody else had any joy from the PT or can suggest other sources of finance, preferably Grants
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Ross Jukes
rjukes@idealmodelling.co.uk
www.idealmodelling.co.uk">href="http://www.idealmodelling.co.uk">www.idealmodelling.co.uk
www.myjobs365.com (eventually!)
RE: Dealings with the Princes Trust?
gd4 | 14/09/2006 10:50 AM
I had the same issue with the Princes Trust. They didn't seem to like tha fact that I had gone to Cambridge uni and thought my parents should be helping me instead! Also thought my boyfriend could support my 'hobby'?!!! even though I was setting up a graphic design business. I did manage to get a loan in the end but they didn't make me feel that they were really behind me.
Doing fine now and don't have any links with them. Sorry I don't know of any other grants - maybe ask your local Business initiative/chambre of commerce? They might know more.
Hope you get on well with it all
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RE: RE: Dealings with the Princes Trust?
JUSTINVSS | 15/09/2006 08:54 AM
Hi,
I also had a real problem trying to get any money from the Prince’s Trust. After spending loads of time and effort putting together a business plan the reply I received was sorry but we can’t even offer you a loan, never mind any type of grant.
I broke contact with them 3 years ago because all I seemed to get was a few leaflets of information that were useless to me because I had already extracted the information from startups.
Unless you are on the streets and have been in jail I wouldn’t bother, its just not worth the time and effort.
Justin
Visual Surveillance Solutions Ltd
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VISUAL SURVEILLANCE SOLUTIONS LTD
RE: Dealings with the Princes Trust?
James Smith | 15/09/2006 09:14 AM
I know the PT have helped a number of my smaller clients, almost always with a loan not a grant. If you are for example unemployed then they do help you get out of it and into your own business which is great.
Don’t forget they only have a small pool of funds to distribute and must apply selection criteria of some description in order that the money gets to the most needy.
You should generally look to your own savings and friends and family as your first level of financing rather than relying on hand outs and loans.
Regards,
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James Smith
Chartered Accountant
www.jamesesmith.co.uk
01235 536 773
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RE: RE: Dealings with the Princes Trust?
rossjukes | 15/09/2006 11:16 AM
Thank you for your comments, its disapointing to hear that others have had similar problems. To me, it makes the whole idea of "support" a mockery, just because you have an education that you have worked hard for and incurred massive debts for you should not be entitled to support? I am not going to turn this into a sob story but in terms of my own personal situation I can not fund my own start up nor seek help from friends and family (believe me I have tried). And therefore, I more than meet all of the PT's requirements, it seems outragous that my application should be disregarded because I have actually tried to further myself where thousands of others in my situation have not.
Im sorry if im ranting, it just seems to be another situation were decent, honest people trying to work hard for a living seem to pay the cost where others get an easy ride.
What really capped it off for me was when I vented my anger to the person in question, his reply was "youve got a degree, im sure you will work it out"
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Ross Jukes
rjukes@idealmodelling.co.uk
www.idealmodelling.co.uk">href="http://www.idealmodelling.co.uk">www.idealmodelling.co.uk
www.myjobs365.com (eventually!)
