Young Enterprise Inspiring Futures 2024/25

In 2024/ 2025, team Thrive & Shine, from Corby Business Academy, took part in Young Enterprise’s Team Programme, through our Inspiring Futures project. The team hoped that it would improve their confidence and develop their enterprise skills.

Team Programme is an enterprise journey for learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) designed to aid transition from education into adulthood, developing independent living and employability skills. It is tailored to benefit young people with mild to moderate learning difficulties, equipping them to develop key life skills and confidence, whilst learning how to run an enterprise collaboratively.

The students decided to make a range of reusable products such as personalised water bottles, tote bags and pouches. All of these showed positive statements to promote wellbeing and a positive outlook on life. Their bags and pouches were made from natural fibres, their badges from a sustainable material from corn starch, and their cold drink cups from BPA free food grade plastic – this was all in line with their aim to be sustainable.

Their strapline 'Be Happy, Be Bright, Be You' touched the majority of their customers and judges. They won the Inspire Award for their creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurial spirit. The judges commented:

“Brilliant products & an engaging presentation. It was clear to see the thought which had gone into the product and running the business, and we particularly liked how each team member's contribution was recognised, as well as reflecting on the skills they had developed.”

Lewis and Drew in the team both said that they felt that their confidence had grown and that they now believed in their sales skills, while Jenny and Lois were excited that they had developed new IT skills and a knowledge of how to use a printing press to create their personalised products. Lois is using her new skills with her own successful soap business and Jacob is now considering going into business. Thrive & Shine competed with teams of young people across England and Wales being interviewed by a panel of judges and delivering a presentation via video to the guests at the showcase. They not only won ‘Runner Up’ for Team Programme Best Advert, but they also won first place in the Team Programme ‘Best Presentation’.

Thanks to support from diverse sources, we are pleased to report that over 539 young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) participated in Team Programme in 2024/25. Many of these teams took part, thanks to Inspiring Futures.

We partnered with over eighty learning centres (SEND provision/settings) across England and Wales, also engaging teachers in these locations, to develop their skills in teaching enterprise and financial education for their learners in the long term. Creativity, confidence and aspirations were the areas where we saw the greatest degree of progression for learners taking part in Team Programme.

In addition, the following impacts for young people were highlighted from our survey data:

• 100% of learners surveyed agreed with the statement: “I understand my personal strengths and areas I need to develop.”
• 100% of learners agreed with the statement: “I can create original ideas using my imagination.”
• 78% of learners said that they know what qualifications/education they need to get to where they want to be