Teenage entrepreneurs swapped classrooms for committee rooms this week as groups of 16 and 17-year-olds pitched their start-ups inside the House of Commons, offering ministers a vivid reminder of the ambition bubbling beneath Britain’s youth unemployment statistics.
The Year 12 students, brought to Parliament by the charity Young Enterprise, presented business plans refined through the organisation’s flagship company programme, which challenges secondary school pupils to create and run real trading ventures.
Addressing the students, Blair McDougall described the energy in the room as “intoxicating”.
“The best thing about my job is sitting down with people who have thought of a job, a product, a new industry that you didn’t even know was a thing,” he said. “That way of looking at the world is exhilarating.”
Four teams from three London schools competed for the prize of a tour of 10 Downing Street, showcasing ideas that ranged from sustainable toys to personalised gifts.
Biodegradable desk pets win top prize
The winning team, from Bishopshalt School in Uxbridge, impressed judges with GoFigr, a range of marine-themed desk pets and fidget toys made from biodegradable plastic.
The four boys manufactured 73 units, selling 70 at London’s Portobello market. With a production cost of £1.50 per toy and a retail price of £5, the team generated £100 profit from their initial sales, later boosting total profits by a further £250 through a school pop-up event.
Gurkaram Rai Singh, 16, who acted as chief executive, delivered the pitch with confidence, even drawing laughter from Tim Campbell, the first winner of The Apprentice.
Reflecting on the market experience, Gurkaram said the programme had sharpened skills he did not realise he already possessed.
“Young Enterprise really utilises skills that you already have,” he said. “It gives you certain new skills, but it refines the old ones.”
Initially hesitant when selling at Portobello, he adapted quickly. “I realised there were Italian customers and I’m comfortable speaking Italian. Once I started speaking in Italian, more people came over. It was beautiful, everyone has a different story and reason for buying.”
The team now hopes to expand into keyrings and other accessories.
Another Bishopshalt group presented Alaesa Luxuries, producing jewellery from bismuth crystals, emphasising that each piece is unique and sustainably created. After modest early profits of £25 at market and £60 at school, the team is refining its pricing strategy.
Students from Royal Greenwich Trust School pitched two concepts: Made with a Smile, which manufactures phone charms and key chains at a production cost of just 20p per unit, sold for £3; and Muggle, a personalised mug business that pivoted from its original concept after early challenges. Judges praised their willingness to adapt, a skill many seasoned founders struggle to master.
Meanwhile, Plumstead Manor School’s Standly showcased a bamboo-based phone stand produced via a UK supplier. The team has already raised more than £500 and is moving into production.
Among those observing was Murvah Iqbal, co-founder of courier start-up Hived, who herself took part in Young Enterprise while at school.
“It was formative just having that taste of entrepreneurship really early on,” she said. “It gives you permission to think differently about your future.”
The parliamentary showcase formed part of a broader government initiative, working with Young Enterprise and the Department for Business and Trade, to promote enterprise education as outlined in the small business plan released in 2025.
Earlier in the day, McDougall chaired a roundtable with young founders, who raised practical barriers that still hamper teenage entrepreneurship, from difficulties opening business bank accounts under 18, to limited access to tailored mentoring and funding. Some suggested the government develop an AI-powered advisory tool to guide first-time founders through regulation, tax and compliance requirements.
Lessons for policymakers
The event came against a backdrop of rising youth unemployment and mounting concern that Britain’s next generation lacks visible entrepreneurial role models. Yet inside Westminster, the atmosphere was notably optimistic.
The students’ ideas may have been modest in scale, but their commercial instincts, pricing discipline, supply chain thinking and customer targeting, reflected a level of sophistication that would not look out of place in a small-cap boardroom.
For ministers seeking to drive growth, the message was clear: the entrepreneurial impulse exists. The challenge is ensuring the system does not stifle it before it has the chance to scale.
