Labour Party Conference 2026: Turning Momentum into Opportunity for Young People

Walking the corridors of this year’s Labour Party Conference, one message came through loud and clear: there is growing appetite to do more for young people. From skills and employment to devolution and economic growth, policymakers, businesses and sector leaders were increasingly focused on how we create better futures for the next generation. 

For Young Enterprise, the conversations reinforced three key priorities: 

1. We need to focus on prevention as well as intervention. Much of the debate centred on young people who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET). While addressing the challenges faced by those young people is critical, there was also recognition that we need to do far more to prevent disengagement before it happens. Through our programmes, we see how enterprise can help young people re-engage with learning, build confidence, develop essential skills and discover pathways that feel relevant to their futures. Creating opportunities early is not only better for young people, it is a smarter investment in long-term economic and social outcomes. 

2. Entrepreneurship deserves a bigger place in the conversation about pathways into work. Discussions about careers often focus on employment, apprenticeships and further study, but self-employment and entrepreneurship are equally important routes to economic participation. For many young people, the future will involve a mix of employment, freelancing, self-employment and portfolio careers. Enterprise education helps young people develop the confidence, networks and capabilities to navigate that changing economy, whether they go on to start a business, work for an employer, or both. 

3. Place-based growth must work for young people. As devolution continues to reshape local economic policy, there is a significant opportunity to connect young people with the networks, mentors, finance and support available in their communities. We had encouraging conversations with organisations across the entrepreneurship ecosystem about how practical barriers can be reduced and opportunities expanded, particularly for young people who may not have existing access to those networks.

One of the most positive aspects of the conference was having young people directly involved in shaping discussions. Six Young Enterprise alumni and participants contributed to roundtables, panels and meeting Ministers, bringing lived experience and fresh perspectives to debates about education, employment, entrepreneurship and AI. Empowering young people to contribute to policy discussions is essential if we want to build a future that works for everyone. Alumnus Dylan, who started his sportswear brand MountForce with Young Enterprise, even got to meet two-time Olympic champion Nicola Adams and share his activewear products (pictured below).  

Another highlight was meeting so many Young Enterprise alumni from so many walks of life, from DJs and business owners to the Skills Minister herself (pictured above). Their stories demonstrated the many different ways our programmes help people build the confidence, resilience and entrepreneurial skills needed to succeed, whatever path they choose. 

We were also proud to attend conference alongside our long-standing partner HSBC UK, helping ensure that enterprise and financial education remained part of the national conversation. And, of course, our Money Heroes mascots, Ed and Bunny, quickly became firm favourites with delegates and visitors alike. Even the Chancellor couldn't resist stopping by for a high-five. 

Overall, the conference left us optimistic. There is clear momentum behind supporting young people, stronger recognition of the value of enterprise education and youth entrepreneurship, and growing interest in preventative approaches that help young people thrive. The challenge now is turning that enthusiasm into action, ensuring every young person can develop the confidence, skills and aspirations they need to succeed.