25/09/2026
This week, colleagues from across the country came together for our annual Colleague Conference. We explored progress on our Strategy, refreshed our values and behaviours framework, and celebrated colleagues through our annual awards. We also heard directly from an inspiring group of young people from Beths Grammar School, who shared their experience of taking part in the Company Programme last year.
The day was also an opportunity to thank our outgoing Chair, Simon Lewis OBE, for seven years of leadership and welcome Baroness Amanda Sater as our new Chair, all expertly hosted by our Lifetime President, William Salomon OBE.
Last year, we published our Transforming Futures strategy, setting out our ambition to:
⭐ Expand our Inspiring Futures programme supporting young people who face the greatest barriers to opportunity
⭐ Be a thought leader in financial education and youth enterprise
⭐ Ensure young people's voices shape decision-making
⭐ Integrate AI and digital technologies across our programmes and operations
One year on, we're already making strong progress:
✅We reached 3,640 young people through 217 Inspiring Futures student companies
✅ Helped secure a major milestone for the sector, with financial education becoming mandatory on the curriculum.
✅ Took young people's voices directly to policymakers, including events with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and three visits to 10 Downing Street.
✅ Rolled out AI training to all colleagues, and developed a pilot to embed AI skills into the Company Programme
Together, we're helping more young people develop the skills, confidence and mindset they need to thrive in work and life.
To see more of what we have planned up to 2030, read our Transforming Futures strategy here:https://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/sites/default/files/2026-03/Young%20Enterprise%20Transforming%20Futures%20Strategy.pdf
📸 Daniaal Khalid
