Has lockdown helped you turn your hobby into a small business?

Have you started making things and selling to friends and family, due to furlough, unemployment or a change brought about from COVID?

Have you started enjoying developing a cottage industry and would like to explore how to develop the business further?

Have you started providing a service on a professional basis during the pandemic period?

If you have a business idea or have recently started a small business, you could be eligible to apply to Dreigiau CYCA Dragons for business support, guidance and the opportunity to win an investment package.

Dreigiau CYCA Dragons is a unique programme of professional support that aims to help people in Carmarthenshire turn their business ideas into a start-up or to further develop their start-up businesses.

During 2022 there will also be six rounds of competition which will give people on the programme an opportunity to win a support and investment package tailored to their business idea.

Many individuals, people on furlough or people unable to work during COVID, started new ventures for many different reasons. We have seen businesses pop on Facebook for example selling cakes, making party packages, crafts and candle making, fitness and training, wood making, photography and painting, to name but a few.

If you are one of the people that have had an idea you would like help to turn into a business, or you have started selling to friends and family and want to explore turning this into a business, then this project is perfect for you. Please get in touch.

We have a business support package that can help with setting up a business, branding, marketing, selling online, and guidance in many other areas. We also offer personal development training and have a creche facility if childcare is an issue.

What's your business idea?

All the people that are eligible to enter the Dreigiau CYCA Dragon’s programme will also be able to enter our monthly Dreigiau CYCA Dragon’s competition. Over the six-month project we will have 12 winners and 24 runners up.

The winners' prize package will include:

• a support package with a value of up to £2,000 of expert advice, plus direct investment of up to £3000 in their business.

The runners-up prize package will include:

• a support package with a value of up to £1,000 of expert advice, plus direct investment of up to £1000 in their business.

These packages are developed to ensure each winner and runners-up get the tailored support they need to take their business and ideas to a commercial level.

Packages will be developed to support each individual winner and runners-up with the support they need, this can include business, legal, marketing and emotional resilience support. The Investment will be agreed on an individual basis and can include insurance costs, an online sales platform, investment in stock, materials, transportation and /or premises and a cash amount of a minimum of half the investment.

In the summer of 2022 CYCA will host a showcase event for all Dreigiau applicants, to showcase the businesses, talents, and ideas that have developed throughout the project; as well as offering sales opportunities for those that have items/services to sell.

Rules and eligibility:

• You must live in Carmarthenshire.
• You must have a business idea that you are ready to develop, or a start-up; contact us to discuss in more detail and to assess eligibility.

 Please see our Terms & Conditions for more detail.

CYCA has a background of supporting young people with career advice, training and mentoring, we have started to support some of our mumpreneurs with their business ideas. We want to scale this work up and support the next generation of Carmarthenshire entrepreneurs ventures and from this work we realised that there is a lot more that could and should be done to develop a new wave of entrepreneurs.

Some beneficiaries may develop local SMEs building up a stronger local-economy throughout Carmarthenshire, others may develop other skills that will bring more value to society.

Anyone entering Dreigiau CYCA Dragons will receive a basic support-package from both in-house mentors as well as external business support experts.

Once a month a panel of judges will convene to hear the business pitches from all entrants; four finalists and two winners will be selected each month and be given a start-up package of investment and tailored support.

Part of the package is networking opportunities and links to relevant businesses. As well as an end of pilot showcase event which will be an opportunity for businesses to sell as well as promote.

For more information please get in touch with Rachel - 01554 776178 | rachel@cycaonline.org 
or fill in our ENQUIRY FORM.

Please see Anette's first video talking about what she finds exciting about the project below

The photos below are when the individuals of cohort 2 went before the panel to present their business ventures on judging day.