about us

To contact the national press office: Tel: 0207 549 1980 Mob: 07713 393 594

e-mail: paul.eastham@young-enterprise.org.uk

http://bit.ly/whz4G4

Young Enterprise is the United Kingdom's largest business and enterprise education charity. Every year we help 250,000 young people learn about business and the world of work in the classroom under the guidance of volunteers from 3,500 companies.

We believe in ''Learning by doing'

Young Enterprise's mission statement is "to inspire and equip young people to learn and succeed through enterprise." Its guiding principle is to do this through 'learning by doing.'  Our programmes range from 'Ourselves' for Primary school pupils as young as four. It takes students on an engaging story-based journey exploring the world of work, saving, earning, decision making and teamwork. They culminate in Young Enterprise's flagship Company Programme which enables 30,000 15-19 year olds run their own real companies for a year with help from business mentors. Many of the scheme's alumni have gone on to outstanding business success.

We were created in 1963

Merchant banker Sir Walter Salomon founded Young Enterprise in the 1962/1963 academic year. It was based on the American Junior Achievement programme. The concept proved hugely popular. By the 1973/1974 academic year, branches had sprung up in  twenty-two areas of the country  running Young Enterprise programmes. In the Spring of 2011 12 of Young Enterprise's regional organisations merged to form a single, streamlined and even more efficient body. Scotland and Northern Ireland remain separate but closely associated members of the family.

We campaign for young people's empowerment

Young Enterprise argues that an excessively narrow focus on academic skills and exams risks sidelining other approaches to learning and can fail to give young people the employability skills they need - such as teamwork, practical thinking, punctuality and businesslike behaviour - to succeed in the world of work.

Here are some statistics and links:

Each year, 5,000 business volunteers inspire young people aged 4 to 25 years. Our programmes empower the next generation with the confidence, ability and ambition to succeed in a rapidly changing global economy.

With the support of more than 3,500 businesses and over 5,000 schools, colleges, universities and local communities, we are a major force in preparing the next generation to run the British economy. 

With almost 50 years’ experience, we are an active member of Junior Achievement Worldwide and a founding member of JA-YE Europe.

How do we know Young Enterprise programmes work?

In 2008 we asked research company Fresh Minds to evaluate the impact our programmes on the lives of Young Enterprise alumni.

Here are the headlines

• Participation in the Young Enterprise Company Programme correlates with better future earnings
• In particular in the 30+ age group alumni earn a third more than their peers.
• Young Enterprise Company Programme alumni are twice as likely to start their own business as their peers.
• Alumni had a greater appreciation of their skills and the opportunities available to them on leaving school.
• The YE alumni are more passionate about their jobs than their peers with 77% of alumni fulfilled and engaged by their jobs, compared to only 59% of the Control Group.
• YE alumni are more successful in their careers than their non-participating counterparts (even when taking into account family affluence).
• YE alumni are more likely to get involved in voluntary work (55% compared with 39% for the Control Group).
• Amongst business-owning alumni, Young Enterprise was ranked as the most significant experience they drew upon when establishing and building their venture.
• Overall, YE alumni felt that Young Enterprise contributed to their skill development more than anything else, including work experience, extra-curricular activities and school. 
• Read more about the Fresh Minds analysis by clicking here: http://bit.ly/pCpFnz

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