Unit Provision Sixth Form Celebrates Outstanding Success in Young Enterprise National Final

About Young Enterprise and the Team Programme

Young Enterprise is the UK’s leading financial and enterprise education charity, empowering young people to build confidence, manage money, discover entrepreneurship and shape their own futures. Through practical, hands‑on experiences, the charity sparks big ideas, bold ambitions and essential skills for life giving every young person the chance to thrive, whatever their starting point. Working with schools, colleges, youth groups and families across England, Scotland and Wales, Young Enterprise offers flexible and inclusive programmes designed to suit a wide range of learning styles.

The Team Programme is Young Enterprise’s specialist pathway for young people aged 15–19 with Special Educational Needs. Delivered through a fully supported, educator‑led framework, the programme enables students to work together to create, run and manage their own business over the course of an academic year. It focuses on developing communication, independence, employability and life skills, giving students meaningful opportunities to take on job roles, engage with customers, make business decisions and grow in confidence through real‑world enterprise experiences.

Student Company Success

Unit Provision Sixth Form at Corby Business Academy is celebrating an exceptional year of achievement after its student company, Memory Lane, secured multiple awards at every stage of the Young Enterprise Team Programme.

Memory Lane, formed by a team of eight Sixth Form students: Jacob, Pearl, Jenny, Owen, Rose, Kaleb, Daisy and Ajay; has demonstrated remarkable creativity, resilience and professionalism throughout the academic year. Their business, known for its thoughtful, memory‑inspired products including their popular robin‑themed designs, has impressed judges at local, regional and national levels.

Memory Lane’s journey began with early triumphs at the Team Programme Competitions, where they won Best Advert and were named Runners‑Up for Best Presentation. Their momentum continued at the East Midlands Trade Fair, earning an impressive two awards:

• Best Trade Stand
• Best Overall Company

At the Northamptonshire County Final, the team’s polished presentation and strong commercial awareness secured two further awards:

• Sales and Marketing Award
• Innovation Award

Their success at county level earned them a place at the Midlands Regional Final at De Montfort University, where they were named Midlands Inspire Award Winners, recognising their resilience, teamwork and outstanding progress. This achievement qualified them for the prestigious Young Enterprise National Final in Cardiff.

At the National Final, Memory Lane joined the top student companies from across the UK. Although teams did not present live on the day, the students took part in a vibrant Business Bazaar, showcasing their products and engaging with judges and visitors. Owen also represented the team in The Apprentice Challenge, responding to rapid‑fire business questions with confidence and quick thinking.

The team did not secure the National Inspire Award, but they were thrilled and surprised to be recognised with three major national awards:

• Team Programme Company of the Year – WINNER
• Best Customer Service Award (competing against 20 companies)
• Outstanding Individual Achievement Award, presented to Jenny Evans, recognised as the top individual across all Team Programme companies in the UK

The day concluded with an emotional awards celebration, recognising achievements across both the Company and Team Programmes. Staff, families and students have reflected proudly on how far Memory Lane had come from their first product ideas to standing on the national stage as one of the UK’s most successful Young Enterprise teams of the year.

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A Message of Pride

Claire Robinson, Unit Provision Manager from Corby Business Academy, praised the students’ achievements:

“Memory Lane has demonstrated exceptional dedication, creativity and professionalism throughout the year. Their success at every stage of the Young Enterprise programme is a testament to their teamwork, resilience and ambition. We are incredibly proud of everything they have achieved.”