Unit Provision - Young Enterprise
The Unit Sixth Form participate in the Young Enterprise Team Programme each year.
The Team Programme is an enterprise journey for SEND students designed to aid transition from education into adulthood, developing independent living and employability skills.
RS provide volunteer business advisers to work alongside the students. Our business advisers, Bonnie Dunion and Donna Constable, bring their knowledge and expertise from the world of work to guide the students as they set up and run their own student company. Each student takes on a job role and is responsible for an area of the business such as finance, sales or marketing.
Young Enterprise runs competitions for Team Programme students to participate in across the academic year. There are three standalone competitions:
- Best Logo Competition
- Best Advert Competition
- Best Presentation Competition
Through taking part in the Team Programme, the students will have opportunities to develop confidence to communicate and interact with people in a variety of situations including: working as part of a team; gain confidence of handling money and understanding of numbers in a practical context; understand and develop essential life skills to help with transition into adulthood.
Please click on the drop-downs below to find out more about this year's Team Programme Company as well as the different competitions.
Thrive and Shine 2025
This year’s Young Enterprise Team Programme company is called ‘Thrive & Shine’.
Our Managing Directors are Jacob in Year 12 and Louis in Year 13.
The students have decided to make a range of products showing a positive statement to promote well-being and a positive outlook on life. Thrive & Shine have already participated in their first sales, including the RS Christmas Market in December 2024.
The Competitions
Thrive & Shine have been busy entering the first two Young Enterprise Team Programme competitions this year for ‘Best Logo’ and ‘Best Advert’. The team wanted to create a bright and colourful logo to match their name and put their dancing shoes to the test with their advert.
Their entries can be found below and on the school’s Instagram account.
‘Thrive & Shine’ Shine Bright at Young Enterprise Regional Final
On Thursday 15th May 2025, our Young Enterprise team, Thrive & Shine, proudly represented our school at the Young Enterprise Midlands Regional Final, held at the prestigious Warwick University. The event brought together eleven schools from across the Midlands, each showcasing their innovative student-run businesses.
Our students set up an eye-catching trade stand and impressed the Young Enterprise staff and judges with their professionalism and enthusiasm. They also had the opportunity to sell their products and share the story behind Thrive & Shine, gaining valuable feedback and encouragement from industry experts.
The day included a guided tour of the Warwick University campus, including a visit to the vibrant Student Union, giving students a taste of university life.
Each school delivered a formal presentation about their business journey. Representing Thrive & Shine, Louis and Jemma confidently introduced our team’s presentation, sharing insights into the challenges and successes of their enterprise experience.
We are thrilled to announce that Thrive & Shine were awarded the Inspire Award, a recognition of their creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Jemma, our Production Director, reflected on the experience:
“We went to the university which was really big. I was brave and confident to stand and introduce our presentation with Louis. It was a fantastic day.”
We are incredibly proud of all the students involved. Their hard work, dedication, and professionalism were evident throughout the day, and they represented our school with pride and excellence.
Congratulations to Thrive & Shine — you truly inspired us all!
Thrive and Shine Presentation Win
Thrive & Shine Win First Place in National Young Enterprise Presentation Competition!
We are thrilled to announce that Thrive & Shine, our Young Enterprise student company from The Unit Sixth Form has been awarded First Place in the Team Programme Best Presentation Competition!
This national competition recognises the creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurial spirit of students across the UK. Thrive & Shine impressed the judges with a powerful and professional presentation that showcased their business journey, the skills they developed, and the impact of their product both in school and in the wider community.
The judges were full of praise for Thrive & Shine, commenting:
“Brilliant products and an engaging presentation. It was clear to see the thought which had gone into the product and running the business, and we particularly liked how each team member's contribution was recognised, as well as reflecting on the skills they had developed.”
We also extend our congratulations to the runners-up: Park Pixels of Park School and Inside the Box of Fleming Fulton School.
This achievement is a testament to the hard work, creativity, and determination of our students. We are incredibly proud of Thrive & Shine.
Well done, Thrive & Shine — you’ve made Corby Business Academy proud!
Thrive and Shine Advert
We are proud to announce that Thrive and Shine have achieved Runners-Up in the Team Programme Best Advert competition 2025!
The judges commented:
“Wow, so much energy in this advert, loved the fun your video brought to the product - these bags and advert definitely do thrive and shine. Lots of personality and positive energy, we can see the bags selling well.”
Well done to all of our amazing students and staff members who have worked really hard to make Thrive and Shine such a success!
Young Enterprise - Oundle Trade Fair
'Thrive & Shine' Shines at their second Young Enterprise Trade Fair
On April 5th, Thrive & Shine participated in their second Young Enterprise Trade Fair at The Queen Victoria Hall in Oundle. Representing the team were Louis (Deputy Managing Director), Drew (Sales Manager), Lois (Marketing Manager), and Jenny (Production), who joined Company Programme teams from Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire.
Louis and Drew set up the trade stand, creating an eye-catching, colourful, and professional display that attracted customers throughout the event. The team maintained a steady flow of customers, with all members making sales and providing high standards of customer service.
Their manners and product knowledge were noted and appreciated by the public, making them a credit to Corby Business Academy. The event was successful, with the team making friends and networking with other participants.
Robin Neighbour, Young Enterprise Educational Partnerships Manager for Northamptonshire and South Lincolnshire, praised the event: “I just wanted to say what a fantastic event Saturday's Trade Fair was. This was in part down to the enthusiasm of the Thrive & Shine Team. Special mention has to go to both Louis and Drew who were just amazing in getting passers-by to visit the stands. I have no doubt this made all the difference to sales for all the companies attending.”
Well done to Thrive & Shine on another successful Trade Fair!
Young Enterprise - Milton Keynes Trade Fair
'Thrive & Shine' Shines at Young Enterprise Trade Fair
Last Saturday, March 22nd, Jacob (Managing Director) and Drew (Sales Manager) proudly represented Thrive & Shine at the Young Enterprise Trade Fair held at Midsummer Place, Milton Keynes. They joined other Company Programme teams from the East Midlands area for a day of trading and networking.
During the event, they had the honour of meeting the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Marie Bradburn, who took a keen interest in their products and achievements.
Young Enterprise organised several competitions as part of the trade fair, and Jacob and Drew received positive feedback from both the judges and Young Enterprise staff. The judges were particularly impressed with the Thrive & Shine team, ranking them in the top three for both "Trade Stand" and "Customer Service." They praised Jacob for his exceptional knowledge, articulate presentation, confidence, and enthusiasm. Although Thrive & Shine narrowly missed out on first place in both categories, the judges expressed that they would have won at least one award if second place were recognised.
Thrive & Shine will be participating in another Young Enterprise Trade Fair this coming Saturday, April 5th, at The Queen Victoria Hall in Oundle, from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. We invite everyone to come along and support our team.
Young Enterprise Team Programme Achievements 2024
Robin Neighbour from Young Enterprise was invited to host an awards event at Corby Business Academy yesterday to celebrate the achievements of this year’s Team Programme Company, ‘Marbellous Makes’.
The students thought Robin was just coming to share their Young Enterprise journey with staff and students in the Unit, but there were more awards to be announced and presented!
Simon Underwood, Principal, had the pleasure of presenting Dawid, Marketing Manager, with the trophy for Best Advert and Dr Andrew Campbell, CEO of Brooke Weston Trust, presented Louis, part of the Marketing Team, with the trophy for Best Presentation.
Corby Business Academy welcomed two special guests from Young Enterprise to be part of the event, Russell Winnard, COO and Jenny Scully, Programme Support Manager.
Jenny Scully presented Lois with a certificate for being nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement Award 2024. Bonnie Dunion, Business Adviser, RS, said; “It has been really lovely to see Lois grow and enhance her skills both business and personal.” Nikki Clark added, “Lois has pushed herself outside of her comfort zone, gained transferrable skills she can utilise in the future.”
Russell Winnard spoke about the Team Programme and announced that Marbellous Makes was Company of the Year 2024! Jemma, Year 12 Manager, accepted the trophy from Russell and the team were awarded certificates and medals.
It has been an amazing journey throughout the year of achievements for Marbellous Makes.
Congratulations to all!