A delegation of Hull young entrepreneurs have been invited to take part in in South Africa’s largest entrepreneurial event #THUDfest taking place from Wednesday 31 August to Friday 2 September in Johannesburg.

Hull City Council and the Youth Enterprise Partnership have been sharing good practice with colleagues in South Africa for two years and now want to build on those relations to develop practical business and learning opportunities. With the support of KC, Hull’s young entrepreneurs have been communicating via online technology in events during Global Entrepreneurship Week since 2014.

Councillor Martin Mancey, Portfolio Holder for Energy City, said: “It is a great opportunity for some of our young entrepreneurs to represent the city at South Africa’s largest entrepreneurial event. At the Hookup Dinner Annual Conference in Johannesburg they can not only find new business opportunities but they can also to share their own enterprise journeys to hundreds of South Africans, and see how we have develop mutual opportunities for our young people in Hull and those in South Africa.

“We look forward to welcoming Selebogo Molefe and entrepreneurs from South Africa to Hull as part of Hull’s City of Culture celebrations and showing them our many fantastic regeneration projects that young people of Hull will benefit from.”

Thomas Arran, photographer, said: “To be given the opportunity to visit enterprising people like myself in South Africa is amazing. Having started my own business at the age of 17 with the support of the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, I think this will be a fantastic opportunity to be able to go visit young people in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, and see how they are supported.”

Kit Hargreaves, MD Apple Pear, commented: “From a personal point of view, I see this trip as an opportunity to to learn. We are not going there to impart our business expertise, but to see how organisations are helping young people succeed in less luxurious support systems than we have here, and to see how those young people can grow into successful businesses.”

Haggai Mwiko founder and chairman of Habby Business, said: “Africa has a bright future, not only is it encouraging to see more upcoming entrepreneurs but it is also inspiring. Habby Business wants to be part of that journey by contributing in any way no matter how small and I am really excited to be taking part in South Africa’s largest entrepreneurial event, The Hookup Dinner Annual Conference in Johannesburg.”

Selebogo Molefe CEO – Lifesgud Global Investments (Pty) Ltd said: “In 2014 I visited Hull as part of fact finding mission to see how Hull and the Council were supporting young entrepreneurs and I was highly impressed – since then we have held web based link-ups. I am pleased that a delegation supported by John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank will be visiting us and taking part in South Africa’s largest entrepreneurial event, The Hookup Dinner Annual Conference in Johannesburg.

“I am very confident that we will be able to further develop links between your great city and Johannesburg – we are particularly interested to know more about the £5 Blossom Programme, the Youth Enterprise Bank, ther enterprising teachers group, Project Blyth run by Greenpower Trust that enables young people to learn more about STEM and Enterprise, and the latest programme, MC4C, which will inspire young people who are the furthest away from the labour market to set up in business.”

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