Youth

The 2025 job fair season is officially underway, and our team was thrilled to attend the first event in Taunton yesterday! This fantastic event brought together job seekers and employers from across the region. Heather, Sue, and Natasha were on hand to connect with attendees and tell them all about our fantastic GAP programme. It was a great success, with a fantastic turnout and plenty of exciting job prospects for those looking to take the next step in their careers. Next up, we’ll be heading to the Bridgwater Jobs Fair on Thursday, 27th March at the Canalside Conference Centre. With…

We are thrilled to announce that we have been recommissioned to launch CHOMP, a dynamic programme designed to support young, disengaged individuals in becoming successful entrepreneurs and business owners. Originally the brainchild of Patricia Marks, CEO of SBA CIC, the initiative was given its catchy name—CHOMP: Get Your Teeth Into Business—by her grandson Noah. Following a highly successful pilot commissioned by Caroline Derrick at Sedgemoor District Council, now part of Somerset Council, CHOMP is set to expand with the backing of the National Lottery Awards For All Fund. This crucial funding will allow us to further our mission of equipping…

In October 2024, the SBA team visited Singapore to strengthen our partnership with All Hearts Pte Ltd, a leading provider of corporate and WSQ Certified training programs. This visit marks an important step in our ongoing collaboration, as we explore new opportunities to work together on impactful initiatives, including Clarity4D—a personality profiling tool designed to enhance communication, self-awareness, and team development. During our visit, we had the opportunity to observe All Hearts in action at their work camp activity, gaining valuable insight into their hands-on approach to personal and professional development. This experience reinforced our appreciation for their dedication to…

Patricia Marks, CEO of SBA CIC, has been awarded the prestigious Winston Churchill Fellowship Silver Medal in London, a recognition of her outstanding contributions to economic development and social enterprise. This accolade celebrates Patricia’s dedication to empowering individuals through education, enterprise, and employment, as well as the impactful findings from her Churchill Fellowship journey. Having secured her Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2017, Patricia embarked on a research tour across Australia and the United States in 2018 and 2019. Her study, titled Education, Enterprise, and Employment – Individual Journeys Back to Economic Activity, focused on identifying best practices for supporting individuals…

SBA CIC is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with the NatWest Regional Partner Enterprise Initiative, securing vital support that will allow the SBA Start-Up Programme to continue running into 2025. This collaboration strengthens SBA’s ability to provide high-quality business start-up support to aspiring entrepreneurs, ensuring even more individuals have access to the guidance and resources they need to turn their ideas into successful ventures. Through this partnership, SBA CIC can now widen participation beyond Somerset, offering fully funded start-up support to individuals across the South West. This expansion will enable more budding business owners to gain the skills,…

SBA played a pivotal role in the creation of Omni-X, an innovative entrepreneurial initiative that came to life after its founders—Rei Tham, Rob Cao and Patricia Marks (SBA CEO) first connected at the Asia Business Show in Singapore 2023. Recognising a shared vision for exploring global innovation, SBA facilitated discussions that laid the foundation for this ambitious collaboration. This connection led to the launch of the Omni-X Global Success Programme in Malaysia in 2024, in partnership with the Malaysian Government and the Center for Business Incubation and Entrepreneurial Ventures at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology -  https://cbiev.tarc.edu.my/…

As part of its expanding SBA Start-Up Programme, SBA CIC is excited to introduce Launchpad, a dedicated ‘finding out’ session designed for those considering starting a business or becoming self-employed. Recognising that these two paths require different approaches, Launchpad provides an essential first step for individuals exploring entrepreneurship, offering clarity on their options and next steps. This interactive session focuses on ideation, helping participants generate and refine business ideas, assess their skills, and identify potential opportunities. Whether someone is thinking about launching a full-scale business or simply considering self-employment as a flexible income source, Launchpad provides a structured space to…