Young Enterprise

Founded by Sir Walter Salomon founded Young Enterprise in 1962. It was based on the successful Junior Achievement programme in America. He admired the US charity’s ability to foster work readiness, entrepreneurship, financial literacy skills, and its philosophy of “learning by doing”. The first UK Company Programme was launched in 1963 in Kent and it attracted 113 teenagers who formed eight student firms thereby becoming: Young Enterprise which is a charity that helps young people build confidence, manage money, discover entrepreneurship and shape their own future. Through practical, hands-on experiences, we spark big ideas, bold ambitions and skills for life – giving every young person the chance to thrive, whatever their starting point.

My key role as a Dragon Panelist was to interview, and judge the multiple Pitch(es) to the Panel, that celebrate the creativity, innovation, and hard work of young entrepreneurs. Providing the the company programme teams get valuable feedback on their proposed business idea and/or products in making a difference in tomorrow’s business leaders and entrepreneurs.