An Edinburgh Napier entrepreneur has taken her start-up story to the very top after being invited to share her views as part of a unique visit to 10 Downing Street.
University graduate Sydney Chasin was part of a recent Enterprise Nation delegation to No 10 where she was given the chance to meet special adviser to the Prime Minister Jimmy McLoughlin and business engagement manager Niamh Mulholland for a special event on young entrepreneurs.
During the visit, Sydney voiced her views on the potential impact that small start-up businesses can have in the UK, alongside hearing more from government representatives on the current support and guidance available for young entrepreneurs in the country.
The event is the latest in a number of similar trips organised by Enterprise Nation as it continues to support people to start and grow their own businesses. This event was the first that has been fully focused on young entrepreneurs and the opportunities available to them within the UK.
A graduate in financial services with entrepreneurship, Sydney was inspired to start her own business after completing her studies and became the first recipient of the Edinburgh Napier’s graduate entrepreneurship visa sponsorship.
Her product – lil’POP – is a healthy snack that uses a crop called sorghum to produce an alternative to popcorn. Her company – The Healthy Crop Ltd – currently operates out of Edinburgh Napier’s Bright Red Triangle incubator at Merchiston as she gears up to bring lil’POP to a commercial market.
For Sydney, the trip was a chance for her small start-up to air its opinions on the grandest business stage of them all.
She said: “As a young entrepreneur, setting out to create a global business, I find it important to know that I am being heard and that the government support and conditions are right to enable the success of both my company and other young companies. Opportunities like this give entrepreneurs a voice at what is arguably the most important table in the country.
“The brand my company has created – lil’POP – is all about showing that the little things, actions and people make a massive impact. This unique opportunity to join Enterprise Nation as part of a young entrepreneur delegation at 10 Downing Street goes to prove that the little people can indeed by heard.”
In December, Sydney was announced as one of 11 Wild Card EDGE winners at the Scottish EDGE competition – a project aimed at identifying and supporting Scotland’s up-and-coming potential entrepreneurial talent. She was awarded £10,000 in funding as a result.
For more information on Sydney and her business, please visit https://thelilpops.com/
For more information on Enterprise Nation, please visit https://www.enterprisenation.com/
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