Young Enterprise Team Programme Celebration Event

Background

At PryceWilliams, we believe in the power of opportunity—for everyone. That’s why we proudly support Young Enterprise, a charity that empowers young people to develop the skills, mindset, and confidence to succeed in life and work.

In June 2025, I had the honour of attending the Team Programme Celebration Event in Leeds. This event recognised students with learning difficulties or disabilities who took part in Young Enterprise’s Team Programme—an initiative focused on nurturing confidence, collaboration, and practical life skills through entrepreneurship.

Approach

We encourage everyone at PryceWilliams to contribute to their communities through mentoring and volunteering. Over the years, we’ve built a strong partnership with Young Enterprise, participating as business mentors and judges across various programmes.

In support of the Team Programme, we sponsored the Teamwork Award—an award that reflects our belief that progress is made when diverse skills, perspectives, and personalities come together to solve problems and create something meaningful.

This year, I also had the privilege of serving on the judging panel and presenting the Teamwork Award to a truly deserving team. It was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when we focus on strengths, embrace differences, and support one another.

Analysis

The Programme

Eight student teams from schools across Yorkshire took part in this year’s Team Programme. Each group worked together to set up and run a small business—developing products and marketing them to the local community.

For students with special educational needs, the journey can be challenging but also offers big opportunities. They learned how to handle real business scenarios: debating ideas, finding compromise, overcoming setbacks, and discovering how each team member could contribute.

One of the most impressive aspects of the programme was watching these students step into the unknown. Many sold to the public for the first time, gaining courage with every interaction.

The Celebration

The Celebration Event brought together all the teams to showcase their work and compete for awards. The students set up vibrant trade stands and spoke passionately about their businesses and experiences.

During the judging interviews, it became clear just how transformative the programme had been. Students spoke with growing confidence about their journey, and their teachers described the shift in how they engaged with learning and each other.

The event wasn’t just about business—it was about belief. Seeing these young people take pride in what they’d achieved was genuinely inspiring.

Conclusions

We are excited to continue supporting Young Enterprise initiatives and look forward to seeing what the future brings for these young, budding entrepreneurs.

Recommendations

If you’re passionate about helping young people realise their potential, we strongly encourage you to support initiatives like Young Enterprise. Whether it’s through:

• Mentoring students
• Volunteering as a judge
• Sponsoring an award or event

Next Steps

If you would like to get involved, contact Jill Tinsley at Young Enterprise here:
jill.tinsley@y-e.org.uk