Social Enterprise Ambassador Tim Campbell has combined his experience as Lord Alan Sugar’s first TV Apprentice and his passion for helping young people to offer some fantastic opportunities backed by blue chip support.
Back in 2005 Tim Campbell was working for London Underground as a senior marketing project manager when he heard about a TV programme called The Apprentice. He went on to win the first series of the show and stayed two years at Lord Sugar’s Amstrad empire before leaving to set up his own venture, Bright Ideas Trust, which helps young people start their own businesses.
Tim has always felt strongly about helping youngsters get access to all available opportunities and saw business as a great leveller for those from difficult backgrounds.
‘We get about 30 applications a month from young people and we support the vast number of them through direct investment or business development,’ says the east Londoner.
The social enterprise operates by taking donations from corporate enterprises, such as the Bank of America, and investing the money into young Londoners’ business ideas. These investments are in the form of debt and equity where the loans are paid back, and Bright Ideas Trust takes an equity stake and recoups the money when the business is sold on.
Bright Ideas Trust should get enough back in loans that it won’t need to totally rely on donations. However, Tim plans for there always to be some financial connection with corporates.
As well as the Bank of America, key supporters include global marketing agency WPP, Accenture, law firm Taylor Wessing and audit giant Ernst and Young.
