Young entrepreneurs with special needs vie for title of ‘Best Company’

Students with special educational needs who have set up and run their own businesses as part of a unique Young Enterprise scheme will compete to be judged ‘Best Company’ at global law firm Clifford Chance at Canary Wharf on Thursday 24 May.

The Young Enterprise Team Programme is the only programme of its kind in the UK and is specially designed to help young people who have difficulties with learning and/or disabilities learn about business and set up their own companies.

Twenty-seven schools and educational centres across London are currently taking part in the scheme with more than 470 students creating and running a total of 33 companies over a two year period. 

Teams of students from eight schools will now take part in the annual ‘John Laing Charitable Trust Team Programme Final’ to find this year’s ‘Best Company’ and celebrate the success of all the students involved in the programme. 

 Miranda Hoogewerf, team programme manager for London, said: “The Team Programme is a unique experience that can be life changing for these young people. With the support of their teachers and local business volunteers, the students set up and run their own companies, select a board of directors from among their peers, raise share capital and market and finance a product or service. 

 “By taking part they gain increased confidence and self esteem as well as effective work, social and life skills that give them the ability to work with adults outside the home or school environment.”

 The schools are: Dysart School – Kingston; St Philips School – Kingston; Pield Heath House School – Hillingdon; Lewisham College – Lewisham; Little Heath School – Romford, Essex; Haverstock School – Camden/Chalk Farm; Oak Tree school – Southgate (Enfield); Hillingdon Manor – Hillingdon; Newham College – Newham; College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London; Plumstead Manor School – Greenwich.

 Some of the products the students have produced this year include T-shirts based on an Olympic theme, decorated crockery which they are selling at Surbiton farmers market and a flower arranging business. One team arranges lunches and dinners where they are waiters and waitresses and use symbols for customers to order their food. All the profits from their lunches and dinners then go to charity.