The Young Enterprise (YE) Company Programme provides learners with an incredible opportunity to experience what it’s like to run their own business. Our Sixth Form learners competed at the Bristol area level, with the potential to advance to national and even European finals.  

During this, students take on the challenge of entrepreneurship, working together to create, market, and sell innovative products. This year, our sixth-form learners participated with two dynamic teams: Cycled Up and Reglow Glasswork. 

Young Enterprise is open to all our A Level learners, not just the Business cohort, to give students the chance to develop their problem-solving, initiative, and creative thinking skills. This provides them with great real-world experience that they can take to any future business or career. 

The YE Company Programme encourages students to think like business owners. Each team invests their own money as shareholders to fund their ventures. By investing £20 per shareholder, the teams started with £80-£100. Both groups supplemented their funds with bake sales at college, giving them a stronger financial footing to begin their entrepreneurial journeys. 

This year, the learners showcased and sold their products at Bristol’s Cabot Circus Christmas market, with the two teams showcasing their creativity and resilience. Cycled Up presented “paint-your-own-reindeer kits,” complete with paint pots and brushes, and woollen pom-pom snowmen. Reglow Glasswork offered room scents crafted from recycled glass bottles, a pivot from their original idea of making candles, which were no longer allowed under YE’s updated insurance policies. #

Both teams were very successful, with Cycled Up raising £70 in revenue and winning two awards: Best Sales and Promotion and Best Community Engagement. Their paint-your-own-reindeer kits proved to be especially popular. Meanwhile, the Reglow Glasswork earned £95 in revenue and showcased remarkable adaptability, turning a setback into an opportunity by transforming unused candle wax into room scents. 

YE is not a competition simply to make as much money as possible, as all the teams are at different stages and have different levels of resources. They're all selling different products with different prices, so at this stage, learners’ products are scored on various things like customer service. In the final, a big part of the judging is the journey and how much they've learned, rather than how well everyone did right out of the gate. 

Both teams faced product-related hurdles but demonstrated ingenuity and flexibility to overcome them. Cycled Up had to abandon their initial plan of selling custom wooden coasters due to stock delays, pivoting to their highly successful reindeer kits. Similarly, Reglow Glasswork adapted to the competition’s updated regulations by repurposing their candle materials into room scents, avoiding sunk costs and making the best of their resources. 

These challenges taught the learners valuable lessons in problem-solving, adaptability, and creative thinking—essential skills for any entrepreneur. 

While the trade fair was a success, it was only the beginning. Both teams plan to reinvest their earnings into their businesses, preparing for future trade fairs in March and the Bristol Finals in May. The learners are taking their experiences and applying them to refine their strategies, improve their marketing, and enhance their products. 

Meeting competitors from other schools at the trade fair gave our learners a glimpse of what it will take to excel in the competition. They are now more motivated than ever to step up their game and secure a spot in the national finals. 

The event was not only a financial success but also a valuable learning experience. Both teams gained insights into effective sales techniques and customer engagement, building confidence for future endeavours. For Cycled Up, the surprise of winning two awards was a highlight, while Reglow Glasswork’s ability to adapt under pressure showcased their resilience. 

The Young Enterprise programme continues to provide an enriching platform for learners to develop entrepreneurial skills, teamwork, and a competitive spirit. As the competition progresses, both teams are determined to use their experiences to rise to new challenges and achieve even greater success. 

If you are interested in joining our Sixth Form next September, click here.