Eight young entrepreneurs. One iconic door. One unforgettable opportunity.

On Friday 6 March, Young Enterprise was proud to take eight students from our Company Programme to Number 10 Downing Street for a special visit to the home of the Prime Minister. The students toured the historic building and met with the Number 10 Business Team to discuss youth entrepreneurship alongside Young Enterprise CEO, Sarah Porretta. 

The students were members of GoFigr, a Young Enterprise student company from Bishopshalt School in Middlesex. As part of this year’s Company Programme, the team has developed a business creating character-driven “desk mates” — 3D printed animal figures featuring tactile materials and moving parts designed to provide a multi-sensory experience and bring personality to everyday workspaces. 

The visit followed GoFigr’s success at Young Enterprise’s recent Pitch to Parliament event in Westminster, delivered as part of our #EntrepreYOUTH campaign. The campaign highlights the barriers young people face when starting a business and brings together policymakers, industry leaders and young people to explore how opportunities for youth entrepreneurship can be improved. 

The Westminster event, delivered in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade, brought together policymakers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, Young Enterprise alumni and current students. As part of the day, four student companies went head-to-head in a Pitch to Parliament competition, presenting their businesses to a panel of judges including Tim Campbell MBE (former winner and advisor on The Apprentice) and broadcaster Steph McGovern. 

The GoFigr team impressed the judges with their creativity, strong understanding of their market and confident presentation, winning first place and earning their invitation to Number 10. 

Tim Campbell MBE said: 
"I was delighted to be asked to be Head Judge at this Pitch to Parliament event. It was a pleasure to hear the young people’s pitches — it took me right back to my early days starting a business. I was really impressed by the quality of their ideas, their understanding of the market, and their presentation skills. Their future potential in enterprise is clear." 

During their visit to Number 10, the students joined a roundtable discussion with Varun Chandra, the Prime Minister’s Chief Business, Investment and Trade Adviser - and a Young Enterprise alumnus. 

The students spoke with Varun and his team about youth entrepreneurship, asking questions ranging from how to start a business and what skills young people need for their first jobs, to which industries the government expects to grow over the next 20-30 years. 

The visit provided a unique opportunity for the students to share their ideas directly with senior advisers at the heart of government and to see first-hand how the skills they are developing through Young Enterprise can open doors. 

Interested in learning more about our #EntrepreYOUTH campaign and how you can get involved? Get in touch to find out more.