Simply Business and EPIC Entrepreneurs CIC launch partnership to empower young entrepreneurs in Northamptonshire
EPIC Entrepreneurs CIC and Northampton-based insurance provider Simply Business have joined forces to support young aspiring business founders in Northamptonshire, strengthening pathways into entrepreneurship for those facing barriers to access.
This purpose-led partnership forms part of The Simply Business Big Dreams Project, a national initiative aimed at helping 10,000 small businesses start or grow by 2030.
In a challenging economic climate, this collaboration directly addresses the significant barriers faced by young people and new entrepreneurs, providing vital skills, funding, and a clear path to success.
Simply Business research* previously indicated a significant gap in entrepreneurial aspirations among young people: although 58% expressed a desire to be their own boss, only 16% were actively pursuing these ambitions.
Through the collaboration, participants will access EPIC’s nationally renowned Young Entrepreneur Programme, a free business development course designed specifically for ambitious young people with limited access to opportunity.
The programme is open to young people aged 16-25 living in the UK who have faced significant challenges or adversity, with a particular focus on individuals who have been through the care system, have refugee status, or have been through (or are on the periphery of) the youth justice system.
EPIC also works with young people who have grown up in a proven low socio-economic background, have been excluded from mainstream education, are managing mental or physical health conditions, or are living with a disability.
Alexios Zachariades-Layland, founder of Gumbudii and Joobii and an EPIC Alumni, commented on the programme’s impact, saying: “EPIC played such an important role in helping me get to where I am today.
"I’ve been on a few accelerators over the years, but nothing has ever come close to the experience I had with EPIC... It wasn’t just about frameworks or business strategy.
"It was the fact that I could turn to them at any time, whether I needed advice, guidance, a sounding board, or even just someone to talk to when things felt tough... That level of support genuinely builds confidence... EPIC isn’t just an accelerator.
"It’s a community, a support system, and a group of people who genuinely care about your success. I’m incredibly grateful for everything it’s given me, and I wouldn’t be where I am now without it.”
Turning Ambition into Action
Over a three-month period, participants of the programme will benefit from:
- Free access to high-value masterclasses (£3,417 worth) covering essential business skills including marketing, finance, business planning, project planning, and legal.
- Expert mentorship, pairing each entrepreneur with seasoned professionals, investors and industry leaders who provide tailored guidance.
- Funding support, including business grants of up to £500 and guidance on further financing pathways.
- Community and confidence building, fostering resilience, ambition, and peer support.
- Hybrid learning and celebration, combining online learning via the EPIC Entrepreneurs App with opportunities to graduate at an in-person event.
As part of the initiative, Simply Business has also donated laptops to EPIC to help ensure young people have the digital tools they need to fully engage with the programme.
Applications are now open for Cohort 1, beginning early 2026. Young people aged 16–24 residing in Northamptonshire with an existing business or a business idea are encouraged to apply and begin their EPIC journey. Apply for the programme at https://www.epicfuture.co.uk/apply-for-epic
A partnership with purpose
Simply Business, one of the UK’s largest small-business insurance providers, recognises the importance of not only protecting entrepreneurs but also helping them succeed from the very start of their journey.
As a long-time employer in the Northamptonshire area, with over 400 people at its contact centre, this partnership is a natural extension of the company’s deep commitment to the local community and its ambition to empower the next generation of small business founders and innovators.
Julie Fisher, UK CEO at Simply Business, said “We are absolutely delighted to launch this partnership with EPIC Entrepreneurs in Northamptonshire.
"As the home of our contact centre for the past 20 years, it is a community very close to our hearts, and we are proud to be able to offer this nationally renowned entrepreneurship programme to local young people for the first time to help them turn their big dreams into reality.”
The Simply Business Big Dreams Project, in partnership with EPIC Future, reflects this commitment by investing in skills, confidence, and real-world opportunities for the next generation of innovators.