Young Enterprise Company Programme (UK)
Rated Expert, this UK school programme is for secondary and post-16 students who form and operate a team company through their school. Participants develop, trade and present a real venture before possible regional and national finals. The main challenge is combining product decisions, finance, sales, operations and persuasive pitching while sharing accountability over an extended project.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗OVERALL COMPETITION LEVEL
Expert Level
5 evaluation dimensions have source-backed automatic scores; 0 dimensions need conflict review.
Competition overview
Key information
Eligible ages
15–19
School level
Secondary/post-16 students
Registration method
School Only
Competition stages
Team company setup, trading, regional finals, UK finals
Fee
Not yet announced by the organiser
Online / in-person
Hybrid
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
Not yet announced by the organiser
Registration closes
Not yet announced by the organiser
Competition starts
Not yet announced by the organiser
Competition ends
Not yet announced by the organiser
Editorial perspective
Our Take
Young Enterprise Company Programme is closer to a supervised business year than to a conventional competition. Students form a company, allocate director roles, raise start-up capital, develop a product or service, trade with the public, manage finances and eventually wind the business down. Competition can emerge through local, county and regional stages, but the educational object is the company itself. That “learning by doing” tradition has a long history. Young Enterprise was founded in 1962, and the first UK Company Programme began in Kent in 1963 with 113 teenagers forming eight firms. The modern programme can run from twelve weeks to an academic year. At the 2026 UK final, 21 teams presented businesses at a trade bazaar before Zestee won Company of the Year and progressed to represent the UK at JA Europe's Gen-E. CompeteMap's view is that the programme rewards operational evidence: customers served, decisions changed and a team that understands its numbers. A polished final pitch cannot replace months of weak company practice.
Read full guide →Preparation support
Recommended resources
Young Enterprise Company Programme
Open resource ↗Official programme guide covering the company journey, roles, trading, finance and competition pathway.
Official · Free · Programme overview · Essential
Company Programme Educator's Guide
Open resource ↗An official eight-step framework from team formation and idea generation to business planning and winding up.
Official · Free · Educator guide PDF · Essential
Young Enterprise Resources
Open resource ↗Official enterprise and financial-capability materials for budgeting, marketing and business preparation.
Official · Free · Enterprise resource library · Recommended