FLEDGLING start-ups with a social conscience are wanted for the second stage of Nationwide's mentorship programme.

The six-month scheme was launched last year and has helped two entrepreneurs, The Platform Project and Tote, turn their ideas into reality.

It offers free office space at the Workshed and one-to-one mentorship from Nationwide’s own team of specialists and is looking for the next round of young entrepreneurs to follow up their success.

Shane Moore, CEO and founder at Tote, is ready to launch his on-demand delivery app, which connects van drivers and online customers.

“The Nationwide mentoring scheme has been the push we needed to commit to the business,” he said.

“An idea is just that, until you commit to making it a reality. Before the scheme, we were trying to make things work, but the business simply wasn’t a priority and we lacked focus. With the help of our mentor, and the support from Nationwide as a whole, we have super-charged our development and business to bring our service to the market quicker than we ever imagined.”

The Platform Project, a non-profit social enterprise that helps young people struggling in mainstream education set up their own business, has expanded and will oversee the launch of the youth magazine run by young people in the town this spring.

Michelle Simpson, head of innovation partnering at Nationwide, said: “After our successful pilot in Swindon, we are excited to support another group of early stage businesses get off the ground. There are lots of small businesses, or those wanting to start out, here in Swindon with great ideas. A little support and advice on how to develop their businesses could bring real value to them and to our local community.

“At Nationwide we understand that you can achieve more together than you can alone, and with our mentoring pilot we want to help bring together existing businesses and those starting out to strengthen support networks here in our hometown.”

Applications from the Swindon area need to be in before March 31 2019 via nationwidepropeller.spigit.com/regionalgrowth/Page/Home

There is a networking event on the evening of 20 March for those interested in applying for the programme. For more information go to regionalgrowth@nationwide.co.uk.