What We Do
Young Enterprise (YE) is a national charity that specialises in enterprise and financial education and is a trusted and valued provider of knowledge, resources and training to anyone teaching young people how to manage their money. Since Young Enterprise was founded, we have provided 7.2 million young people with financial and enterprise opportunities, including 1.1 million young people who have started Young Enterprise businesses. We are a founding member of Junior Achievement World Wide. A global network of over 100 countries across the world, united by a global mission to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.
Our programmes and services exist to provide young people with the opportunity to develop and apply an enterprising mindset needed to earn and look after their money and make a positive contribution to their community.
As subject experts, we provide the secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Education for Young People.
We are effective in working independently and with others to advocate for policy change at Government level.
Why We Are Needed?
The UK faces a serious skills gap. A high percentage of young people are not in education or employment, and many leave school without the skills they need to succeed in the real world. We work with schools, universities, businesses and influencers to help change this. We passionately believe meaningful opportunities, combined with appropriate support to develop and apply an enterprising mindsets and skills, changes young people’s futures.
Our Vision
Every young person has the opportunity to learn the vital skills and enterprising mindset needed to earn and look after their money and make a positive contribution to their community.
Our Mission
We want to ensure that young people are given the best chance for a rewarding future in work and in life – no matter where they start their journey.
Our mission is to empower young people to discover, develop and celebrate their skills and potential.
We work directly with young people, their teachers and parents, businesses and influencers to build a successful and sustainable future for all.
Through our hands-on employability and financial education programmes, resources and teacher training, we want to eradicate youth unemployment, help young people realise their potential beyond education and empower a generation to learn, to work and to live.
Our Values
- Unlocking potential: Recognising and developing the potential of all; in our organisation, in the young people we champion and the stakeholders we work with.
- One Team: Working together effectively to achieve our goals.
- Enterprising & Resilient: Embracing change, innovating, adapting and responding to challenges and opportunities.
- Creating great impact: Aiming for the biggest impact on young people and their educators.
Impact & Plans for the Future
Impact
- Over the last 4 years 1.37 million young people have participated in 1.65 million financial and enterprise opportunities created by Young Enterprise supported by 50,336 educators, volunteers and alumni.
- We have increased our engagement with schools in more disadvantaged (IMD1-4) communities. Of all the state secondary schools located in IMD 1-4 areas across England and Wales, we engaged 32% of these schools last year, up from 24% in 2020.
- Of all the state secondary schools we engaged, 43% of these schools were in IMD1-4 areas last year, up from 37% in 2020.
After taking part in Young Enterprise Programmes:
- 92% of young people feel more resilient and keep trying when faced with problems.
- 87% of young people feel more confident in themselves after taking part in YE programmes.
- 85% of young people better understand their strengths and areas to develop, including what employers are looking for.
- 85% of young people feel as though they have a better grasp of money, spending and saving.
- 83% of young people feel more inspired about starting a career that motivates and interests them.
- 75% of young people feel able to make informed decisions about their futures.
Transforming Futures Strategy – 2024-2030
Our new strategy aims to build a red thread between opportunity, skills and increased productivity & social mobility. Increased productivity benefits everyone if skills can be unlocked across the country.
The earlier YP learn how to apply their learning the greater the compounding effect. Impacting their families, communities, ultimately boosting labour market productivity. Productivity unlocks social mobility if young people with the greatest barriers are prioritised for access to support and opportunity to build relevant skills and networks to access employment and / or startup businesses. Our new strategy aims to increase access to financial & enterprise education for those in greatest need, with our suite of programmes focussing on outcome markers that make the greatest contribution to social mobility.
Our 2024-2030 Transforming Futures Impact Measures are as follows:
- YE Applied learning unlocks improved Attendance, Attainment and Attitude to education.
- ALL Young people are better prepared for the world of work after participating in YE Programmes.
- YE Alumni facing barriers achieve Social Mobility markers linked to skills and preparedness for the world of work.
- YE Alumni facing barriers to social mobility employed/ running start ups contribute to increased productivity + social mobility.
Where We Operate
We operate in England and Wales, and licence the delivery of Young Enterprise Programmes and services in Scotland through Young Enterprise Scotland, Northern Ireland through Young Enterprise Northern Ireland and Gibraltar through Young Enterprise Gibraltar.
Young Enterprise is a founding member of the global organisation, JA Worldwide.