Matt's scheme to help dyslexic people find work

Matthew Boyd, aged 25, graduated from the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs programme, in partnership with the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) this autumn.

His social enterprise, Exceptional Individuals, works with dyslexia associations, charities and universities to provide support and guidance when seeking employment.

Matt decided in 2012 that he wanted to help people with dyslexia to find employment, after he himself found the traditional job application process particularly tricky.

He believes educating companies about the benefits of employing dyslexic people is key to breaking down barriers for the dyslexic community.

People with dyslexia and dyspraxia make up 10 per cent of the British population, but research has shown that many who don’t get help at an early age can end up unemployed, depressed or in prison.

The Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs programme provides financial and learning support, including a business mentoring scheme, to entrepreneurs developing their own social businesses.

Entrepreneurs receive either Start-Up grants of £4,000 or Scale-Up grants of £15,000 from the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme, along with the action learning programme delivered in partnership with the SSE and support from their Lloyds mentor, to enable them to take their social enterprises to the next level. Matthew has graduated from the fourth year of the Start Up Bristol 2015 programme.

The Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme is designed to support social entrepreneurs in communities and help stimulate economic growth and regeneration across the UK.