Farnham Town Council has teamed up with the Children’s Business Fair to offer a unique scholarship programme aimed at supporting Farnham’s young entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Named in honour of the Stewart Dakers, a dedicated former employee of Farnham Town Council and youth advocate who died in 2024, the Stewart Dakers’ Bursary will provide local young entrepreneurs (aged 7-17) with the tools and opportunities to launch their own businesses at the Farnham Children’s Business Fair (CBF).

The Stewart Daker’s Bursary includes:

• £80 start-up investment loan
• Free entry to any three events in one year (3 x £30)
• Free access to the Build-a-Business Program online, video-based learning program.
• Weekly online mentorship check-ins

How to apply

1. Register your interest by emailing info@childrensbusinessfair.co.uk (with the subject line: Stewart Drakers’ Bursary)
2. Fill in My Business Plan template. Link here: My Business Plan. This is your application. It’s a document that helps you work through your business idea and plan out the various stages of launching at the CBF. It will show us how original your idea is and how passionate you are about it. The more detailed you can add, the better. Have a read of a successful CBF Scholar’s application here.

Timings

• To be considered for the Summer 2025 cohort, applications need to be sent by Friday, May 23rd 2025 at 5pm.
• We aim to inform successful applicants by Sunday, June 1st 2025.
• All recipients are eligible to launch at three Farnham CBF events within the next 12 months.

Who is eligible?

• The Stewart Daker’s Bursary is currently open to Farnham residents, aged 7-17.
• We are particularly interested in young entrepreneurs families who need support to afford the start-up cost and mentorship.
• Please do not apply if you have already participated or applied to the CBF.

Please note:

• Once accepted onto the CBF Scholarship, you will be asked to sign an agreement that holds you accountable to launching your business at the upcoming Farnham Children’s Business Fairs.
• Applicants are not obliged to take the start up loan.
• If the loan is required, successful applicants will agree to pay back the start-up costs from revenues earned at the Children’s Business Fair. This allows recipients to understand the importance of costs. It also allows the CBF to continue to broaden access to the CBF for other young entrepreneurs.
• Participants keep all profits made at the Children’s Business Fair.

Success Story: Oliwia

CBF Scholarship recipient, Oliwia (15), could not be a better ambassador for the future of entrepreneurship.

Oliwia’s acceptance onto the CBF Scholarship meant her start-up costs were covered (which she’s since paid back). She was also given free entry to the CBF, access to the CBF’s Build-a-Business online program, and weekly 1-2-1 mentorship.

Launching at the CBF, Oliwia talked to everyone she could about Squeaking Wonderland (her business selling foraging mixes for small pets). Even those without a small pet got an earful…

Slick packaging, well-researched pricing, a great story and a laser focus on selling, meant that Oliwia nailed the sales of this niche, but very original product.

Then, not content with sales at the CBF, Oliwia continued to pound the streets, visiting local pet stores and going on to sell 30 more units!

It just shows – finding and owning a niche is a highly effective pathway to success!

SALUTE TO THE SCHOLAR!

READ OLIWIA’S CBF SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION HERE