SERC Student Samantha Finalist in Side Hustle Initiative Competition

The Side Hustle Initiative is a nationwide annual competition that gives 13 to 18-year-olds, who either already have a side business or who have a business idea they want to launch, the platform to show off their business and turn their ideas into reality. The best competitors have a chance of winning a share of a £10,000 prize pot to help grow their expanding businesses.  

Samantha (18), from Ballynahinch, is competing in the finals in London on 25 October with her creative art and design business StrawberryArtPie, (available on Etsy) which designs and handcrafts a unique range of products and artwork, including quirky clay earrings, crocheted plushies, artistic t-shirts, paintings and holiday-themed items.  

On reaching the finals, Samantha comments, “I'm delighted that my business has gotten this far. It proves to me that people like what I'm creating. I challenged myself to apply to this competition, not knowing the outcome and I'm excited to see what happens next.” 

As a member of the Virtual Entrepreneurs Club at SERC, Samantha has access to daily updates on funding and competition opportunities, which is where she discovered the Side Hustle Initiative and decided to compete. Samantha has also taken part in one-to-one mentoring programmes available to SERC Virtual Entrepreneurs Club members. Samantha says, "My personal experience working with the SERC Enterprise team has been amazing. They have really allowed me to take creative liberty but also taught me some important business techniques and advice. Overall, I would fully recommend anyone who has a business idea to reach out and get mentored as it has helped me a lot.”  

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