#Chances4Children: Merseyside project offers opportunities to young entrepreneurs

Created by Merseyside Expanding Horizons (MEH), The Big Onion offers low-cost stalls to young entrepreneurs and businesses. 

• Pandemic recovery: sector bodies outline their priorities for action

• Blog: 5 key approaches to supporting young people into employment

Boasting 17 different trader units including an Italian café, a barbers and women’s clothes shop, the scheme based in Bootle Strand Shopping Centre also includes a sci-fi collectables’ shop run by Eddie Holmes who is mentoring would-be retailers.

Eddie initially joined the scheme while looking for work himself and is now the manager of The Big Onion premises at The Strand shopping centre and mentor to 19-year-old Callum, who has learning difficulties and struggled with confidence at school. 

“The staff at The Big Onion are like a family to me and help me fill-in applications and other forms,” Callum said, “I still feel a bit nervous when dealing with customers, but I am getting better.”

The project also features an employment hub staffed by MEH employment advisors working alongside JobCentre Plus staff as well as facilities for community groups.

Nicola Daley, chief executive of MEH, said the project offers an “experience rather than just a shopping trip” to locals while supporting the recovery of the high street following the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Naturally throughout lockdown, customers increased the number of products they bought online which spelled disaster for the tens of thousands of young people working in retail outlets. 

“In terms of mentoring, we are in it for the long-haul as we realise retail builds transferable skills, opening-up all kinds of opportunities for young people,” she said.