Young Enterprise London was the London regional winner of the 2009 Enterprising Britain competition. Nine thousand young people in the last two years have set up and run their own real-life business
Fire left school at 16 with no qualifications, unsure of what to do with his future. Now he finds himself in back in schools every week - running a successful dance business and building pupils’ fitness and social skills through salsa!
This innovative programme combines wireless technology and emergent arts/education projects, and works to engage socially excluded young people.
Rob Law has had quite a journey: from an initial business investment from his parents and family, via a grilling on Dragons’ Den, to a global business with stockists in over 40 countries! His ‘boredom-busting’ suitcase for children has certainly come a long way.
Artist to the stars Jenny Irish has turned her own creative talents to helping young people find a voice. She leads a series of exciting and unusual initiatives combining art and technology: FreqOUT!
“I believe that the fear of failure is much worse than the reality,” says Robin, who recently made a career change from banking to baking. “The fear of being made redundant was horrendous but actually it has given me the best opportunity to pursue something new and exciting.”
Rosemary Laryea’s way with words took her from the boardroom to the broadcast room.
Make Your Mark Ambassador Foluke Akinlose tells us the story of Precious Online and why lack of funding shouldn't stop you following your dream.
City Fringe Partnership (CFP) was recognised in the 2006 Enterprising Britain competition for its success in creating an all-inclusive strategy for enterprise. CFP has successfully brought together businesses and communities to aid regeneration in the deprived City Fringe areas of Hackney, Islington, Tower Hamlets and Camden.
Ten years ago virtually no one could have imagined that one of the most underfunded and undervalued art forms could spark a cultural regeneration renaissance in one of the UK’s most disparate, diverse and deprived areas. But UKCCA, the leading agency for the carnival and creative arts in the UK, has achieved incredible results through its firm believe that carnival arts have the power to transform lives, raise attainment and reposition towns and cities.
Based in Tooting, Wandsworth Youth Enterprise Centre (WYEC) has a 20 year track record of supporting young people aged 17-30 to develop their business ideas and start up their own businesses.
Amy is an artist, illustrator and printer. She makes colourful, hand-printed fashion and interior accessories using organic, fair-trade denims and cottons, vintage and pre-loved materials, to create quirky and original fabrics using only traditional methods.
Rosie Brooks has established herself as a truly enterprising artist (whether she's painting a 10 foot guitar for Paul McCartney or a cow in the legendary cow parade).
Why hire a man to do a woman's job? Home Jane offers highly qualified tradeswomen to tackle all your DIY jobs, from building shelves to antique furniture restoration.
Vincent’s mum told him “you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it”. For Vincent, that “anything” was staging a healthy eating revolution with Tossed.
Oliver and Nicola set up Natural Magic in 2005 as a new high-end organic beauty brand using all natural ingredients. After one month online, Selfridges wanted to stock Natural Magic candles; after six months both partners had quit their day jobs in private equities and media, to focus on the venture.
Matt McNeill set up Sign-Up.to in 2004, an email and mobile marketing solution which is now one of the world’s leading self-service tools for permission-based marketing.
Jerome Touze (right) and Peter Ward established travel social networking site Where Are You Now? (WAYN) in September 2002. WAYN helps travellers stay in touch with their friends but also publishes reviews of hotels, restaurants and tourist sites.
Having been named as one of the top ’30 under 30’ in 2004 by Media Week for co-founding search marketing agency Espotting, it was obvious Ollie Bishop was on to great things.
Warren Bennett (left) and friend David Hathiramani, launched ASuitThatFits in June 2006. ASuitThatFits is the world’s first online tailor-made suit company, creating high quality, individually hand-tailored suits, with prices starting from £110.
