If you're between the ages of 18 and 30 and have completed the Prince's Trust Explore Enterprise Course, you can apply for a Test My Business Idea grant of up to £500 to help you try a new business idea.

The Test My Business Idea grant can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:

• advertising
• marketing
• purchasing stock or equipment
• building a prototype

When you first contact the Trust, you'll be paired with a caseworker who will get to know you and your business idea through some initial induction meetings. You'll complete some documents to get set up in the system, then you can enroll on the Prince's Trust Explore Enterprise Course.

The Explore Enterprise Course includes 7 sessions that cover the basics of self-employment, HMRC and finance, pricing and sales, marketing, networking, cashflows, and business plans. Read more about the Explore Enterprise Course.

Once you've completed the Explore Enterprise Course, your caseworker will help you fill out your Test My Business Idea grant application through the user-friendly online Prince's Trust Grants Hub.

The grant is usually paid within a few days of approval.

You are eligible for the Test My Business Idea Grant if you:

• are 18 to 30 years old
• live in Scotland
• have the right to work in the UK
• have not started trading
• have a UK bank account
• have completed The Prince's Trust Explore Enterprise Course

The service and support are free.

Anyone between the ages of 18 and 30 who lives in Scotland, has the right to work in the UK and has a new business idea.

The induction process, Explore Enterprise Course, and grant application will take around 3 months to complete. However, this is an average estimate and depends on your personal circumstances - contact The Prince's Trust to discuss this further.

The grant is usually paid within a few days of approval.

Participants must be available to attend 3-hour sessions that start at either 10am or 1pm, Monday to Thursday. However, you and your caseworker will look at the upcoming session schedule and make a plan that suits your needs and personal commitments.

The course sessions run on a continuous rolling cycle throughout the year, with different times and days each week. Normally, a complete cycle of the sessions is completed every 2 to 3 weeks.

You and your caseworker will arrange meetings to check in and discuss any questions or queries you have about your application. You and your caseworker can decide on the frequency and scheduling of your check-in meetings. These can be scheduled between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Participants must be available to attend the Explore Enterprise Course sessions that run between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Thursday. However, you and your caseworker will look at the upcoming session schedule and make a plan that suits your needs and personal commitments.

Submit an enquiry and an adviser from your region will be in touch to discuss your needs.