Franchise partners from ActionCOACH across the UK are helping inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs through their support of the Young Entrepreneur Smart Start (YESS) programme, a practical initiative equipping young people with the mindset, confidence and real-world business skills needed for the future.

Delivered by the YESS Foundation-UK, a charity providing entrepreneurial and mindset education for young people aged 12 to 22, the programme is designed to develop communication skills, decision-making, resilience and goal setting alongside practical business knowledge.

Students graduate from first cohorts

At The Vale Academy in Brigg, North Lincolnshire, 10 students from Years 9, 10 and 11 graduated after completing more than 80 learning modules in addition to their regular schoolwork.

Alongside the coursework, students created personal vision boards, developed structured business plans and delivered recorded business pitches during a Dragon’s Den-style event held at the school.

The graduation ceremony brought together students, families and members of the local community, including the Deputy Mayor of North Lincolnshire, Janet Lee, The Vale Academy’s Principal, Dr Sarah Stokes, and Steve Hodsman, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Delta Academies Trust.

The programme was facilitated by volunteer, Catherine McHale.
Students were also mentored by local business leaders who formed the judging panel for the final pitch event, including John McHale from ActionCOACH, Nichola Threadgold from Jason Threadgold Funeral Directors, Karen Eddy from SC4 and Sharleen Lawless from Rocal Group.

The evening’s awards recognised standout achievements across the programme:

Best Vision Board – Sophie Neal, Year 11

Best Business Plan – Amelia Milthorpe, Year 10

Best Business Pitch – Louis Talbot, Year 10

Facilitator’s Award for Outstanding Effort – Kaari Smith, Year 9

Further south in Framlingham, Suffolk, students from Framlingham College also celebrated completing the programme. Local Action Coach/franchise partner, Chris Duke, who facilitated the programme, said, “It’s been inspiring to watch these young people discover what they’re capable of. Over the course of the programme, they’ve developed confidence, entrepreneurial thinking and real-world business skills.”

Best Vision Board – Sevin Shong, Year 12

Best Business Plan – Ruby Phillips, Year 12

Best Business Pitch – Jasper Cole, Year 12

Building confidence and ambition

Students typically dedicate around three hours a week to the course alongside their regular studies. Volunteer facilitators, such as Chris and Catherine, believe this balance helps them build discipline and confidence in their potential.

Kaari Smith, winner of the Facilitator’s Award for Outstanding Effort at The Vale Academy, believed the course was a real standout and furthered his burgeoning passion for entrepreneurship. “I’ve always wanted to start my own business, and the YESS programme helped me improve my knowledge about business and gives me the confidence to pursue my entrepreneurial ambition in the future.”

Denise Pitot, CEO of the YESS Foundation-UK, said initiatives like YESS rely on collaboration between schools, volunteers and local business. “We believe every young person deserves the opportunity to build confidence in their own potential. Seeing students graduate the programme shows what can happen when schools, families and local businesses come together to support young people.”

The charity hopes to reach more than 1,250 young people across the UK over the next year through the programme.

Why initiatives like YESS matter for the franchise sector

The involvement of ActionCOACH in initiatives like YESS highlights the wider community impact franchising can create beyond commercial growth.

ActionCOACH is the world’s largest business coaching franchise, supporting more than 15,000 business owners globally. Across the UK, franchise partners and their teams work with entrepreneurs and leadership teams to improve performance, leadership and profitability.

By helping young people develop confidence, communication skills and commercial awareness, programmes like YESS contribute to a stronger future pipeline of entrepreneurs, business leaders and employers.

For more information about the YESS programme, please visit https://www.yessfoundation.org.uk/