The Young Enterprise Mission
To inspire and equip young people to learn and succeed through enterprise.

About Young Enterprise
Founded in 1963, national business-education charity Young Enterprise runs a range of programmes for more than 370,000 young people each year through the support of 3000+ UK businesses.

The Young Enterprise programmes are all based on the principle of learning by doing and bring volunteers from business into the classroom to work with the teacher and students and deliver the programmes. Some of the Young Enterprise programmes offer students direct experience of enterprise through working together to run their own real company. Other programmes are structured around seminars and classes, using games, activities and role-play to help students understand and develop skills and capabilities for enterprise, business and the world of work.

The Company and Team Programmes
In the Company and Team Programmes, students aged 15 to 19+ set up and run their own real company. They elect a board of directors from amongst their peers, raise share capital and market and finance a product or service of their choice. At the end of the year they liquidate the company and present a report and accounts.

All Young Enterprise companies from these two programmes are invited to enter the annual Young Enterprise Company of the Year competition which runs through Area, Strategic and Regional Board levels before culminating in the UK Finals at the HSBC Young Enterprise Innovation Awards.

HSBC Young Enterprise Innovation Awards
This awards event is the culmination of a year in business for 40,000 young people aged 15–19 who take part in the Young Enterprise Company Programme or Team Programme during the academic year.

The top Young Enterprise Company from each of the 12 regions of the UK present the results of their year in business in front of an audience of business guests and parents. A panel of judges, who have already read the company reports and interviewed the students, watch the presentations before making a final decision on the Young Enterprise UK Company of the Year 2008.

Trophies and certificates are presented to the 3rd, 2nd and 1st placed companies. The winning company represents the UK at the European competition.

Additional Awards:
As well as the overall HSBC Young Enterprise Innovation Awards, additional awards are available to recognise individual or company achievement in specific areas.

Young Enterprise Founder’s Awards
The two Founder’s Awards are presented in memory of Sir Walter Salomon, the founder of Young Enterprise. One award recognises demonstration of exceptional leadership potential; the other recognises personal progress made through Young Enterprise.

Young Enterprise Production Award
The Young Enterprise Production Award is supported by GKN plc, and recognises excellence in production of a Young Enterprise company’s product or service.

Young Enterprise Marketing Awards
The Young Enterprise Marketing Award is supported by Accenture and recognises excellence in Marketing.

Young Enterprise Financial Management in Business Award
The Young Enterprise Financial Management in Business Award is supported by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and recognises the best understanding and management of the financial systems across the whole company.