Finalists will compete in this year’s Young Entrepreneurs Challenge showcase in March in a bid to win £10,000 (€11,750*)

Five young entrepreneurs have been named as finalists in the latest Young Entrepreneurs Challenge (YEC), an initiative launched by Verizon and Unloc. The challenge, now in its seventh year, aims to discover the business leaders of tomorrow by tasking young European entrepreneurs between the ages of 16 and 25 to devise a tech-led business idea that addresses a key industry or societal issue. 

This year’s challenge has brought to light a number of business models that tackle current sustainability and healthcare challenges including water restoration robots, biodegradable textiles from kombucha by-products, reforestation hexapod robots, a floating solar solution and a robotic glove for stroke rehabilitation. The team received over 100 competitive and innovative business ideas from a wide range of countries across Europe including the UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece, Slovakia, Turkey, Portugal, Austria, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Estonia and Poland. 

“Throughout the past seven years,  the Young Entrepreneurs Challenge has been a brilliant opportunity to discover young and promising talent across Europe. There is nothing like the imagination and innovation of a young mind. The YEC serves as a platform to help bring their ideas to life,” said Sanjiv Gossain, General Manager and Head of EMEA for Verizon Business. 

“Young entrepreneurs in Europe often face hurdles and scepticism in accessing funding and mentorship. Verizon Business is proud to play a small role in helping this next generation of tech leaders stay a step ahead in the industry, as they work to make a positive impact around the world.” 

“We are in an era where technological innovation is crucial for tackling complex challenges in sustainability, climate change, and health. Investing in the next generation of leaders and their ideas is essential to addressing these issues,” said Hayden Taylor, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Unloc. “Each year, we are amazed by the ingenuity of young entrepreneurs and are impressed to see the innovative ideas submitted for the Young Entrepreneurs Challenge.”

The five finalists will now compete head-to-head in a grand finale held in March 2025, pitching their business concept live to a panel of expert judges and invited guests representing both the worlds of business and education. The winner receives £10,000 (€11,750*), mentorship and a technology support package to help kickstart their business. In addition, the winner will also receive a ticket to attend the Global One Young World 2025 Munich Summit.

Each runner-up will receive £977 (€1175) to fund their start-up business, a personalised development plan that focuses on key priorities, and access to a series of masterclasses over the next year that will pair the finalists with various industry experts. 

Aleksandra aims to address the global environmental crisis of water pollution caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in water bodies. Her solution involves small, solar-powered robots that use wire meshes to collect harmful algae blooms, release oxygen through air stones to combat oxygen depletion, and utilise zeolite biofilters to absorb excess nutrients, thereby preventing further eutrophication.

The key selling point is its self-sustaining business model. The collected algae will be sold to businesses that convert them into biofuels and other sustainable products, creating a revenue stream to fund more robots. This approach not only restores aquatic ecosystems but also fosters sustainability and generates economic value.

Aleksandra’s solution also aligns with the UN SDG 14: Life Below Water, promoting ecological restoration and sustainability.

The precision reforestation market is projected to reach $9.77 billion by 2033, growing at a 5.74% CAGR, with high demand from the private sector. Recognising a billion-dollar opportunity, Marta developed Trovador, a reforestation robotics company that combats climate change by planting trees in hard-to-reach areas. Unlike drones, which have a low survival rate for seeds, Trovador’s hexapod robots plant saplings with a 90% survival rate. These AI-driven robots navigate challenging terrains like cliffs and slopes, ensuring effective reforestation.

Trovador’s unique hexapod design preserves essential soil conditions for sapling survival and operates autonomously, overcoming obstacles in real-time. This innovative approach supports sustainability by providing rural communities with a safe, efficient reforestation solution, aligning with several UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The service is quite simple and self-explanatory: clients select the planting site, the robot is deployed, and reforestation is monitored remotely. With just £2.5 (€3) per tree, Trovador is 30% more affordable than traditional methods, while excelling in speed, safety, and sustainability.

Solar Sub’s floating solar solution revolutionises renewable energy by placing solar panels on water bodies, maximising land use and harnessing natural cooling. This approach enhances system efficiency, increasing energy yield by up to 27% compared to traditional solar systems.

Solar Sub’s advanced cooling technology and optimal panel positioning improve efficiency and durability, reducing operational costs and extending the lifespan of solar installations. This innovation sets Solar Sub apart from competitors facing issues with panel overheating and degradation.

Sebastiaan adopts a licensing business model which allows rapid scaling without significant capital investment. This reduces upfront costs and risks, enabling us to focus on strategic partnerships. His model has gained traction with support from key industry players, confirming market interest and feasibility.

Exoheal addresses the global shortage of physiotherapists and the inaccessibility of effective therapy with a robotic glove and a machine-learning-powered app. This solution delivers personalised, real-time therapy, enabling stroke recovery from home. Early trials show a 50% improvement in recovery time compared to traditional methods.

Exoheal app connects patients with hospitals and clinics, allowing remote monitoring and real-time feedback. Its modular design and scalable production ensure affordability and the ability to meet global demand. By 2028, Zain and his team aim to transform 100,000 lives, saving governments $178 million in healthcare costs and enabling $16 million in inpatient earnings. 

Two of the UK’s leading education specialists are joining forces to ensure young people across the country receive the very highest standard of Student Governance training available. Unloc are working together with the highly respected Further Education specialists Rockborn in order to roll out an in-depth programme of events, training and bootcamps for the UK’s Student Governors.

The recently developed Student Governor Changemaker Programme takes young Governors on a personal development changemaker journey. Not talking at them, lobbying them with historical practice or overwhelming them with knowledge, but working with them at ground level upwards, supporting student governors on their next steps, whilst empowering them to be the best they can be in their roles using tangible training and skills  – empowering them both as governors and future leaders.

Award winning organisation Unloc have long championed, supported and invested in Student Governors across the FE sector, most notably through their dedicated training and support programmes, student voice workshops, and in-depth governance training for young people.  Their mission to create, empower and grow young changemakers has seen them go from strength to strength over the past few years, building a strong reputation for excellence in the education sector, and launching their own Unloc Changemaker Alliance bringing leading businesses together to create opportunities and level the playing field for young people.

Rockborn boast an impressive track record of success as management and governance consultants in the Further Education sector, long supporting Further Education boards through governance reviews, training, consultancy and project managing mergers in the sector. Rockborn are sector experts with directors and associates having held positions as College Principals, Chief Executives, HR Directors, Marketing Consultants, organisational change leaders, and governance professionals. Their strong belief in the transformational power of Further Education aligns perfectly with Unloc’s mission to empower young people and the next generation, with both organisations understanding the responsibility that goes with such a goal.

Both organisations are experts at cultivating exceptional learning environments, working with staff, boards and young leaders to develop rich and vibrant educational spaces that allow young people to flourish. This partnership initiative builds upon Unloc’s experience with governance training, then elevates and expands it to new heights that allows for a multi-regional offer, reaching more students around the country than ever before.

Our Student Governor training provides young changemakers with a wealth of skills and the very best in training for young leaders entering into their new role.

The programme will provide the most comprehensive and expansive personal development programme possible, giving college students in a governance position access to dynamic opportunities which include Changemaker Summits run in different locations across the country, building the tangible key skills required to have impact and drive change in their college.

Student Governors will also have access to a series of 3 online digital masterclasses focused on developing students’ wider skill-sets as student leaders and changemakers. Each session will last 90 minutes with a guest speaker and accompanying workshop topics, including Finding Your Leadership Style, Communication, Motivation and Influencing Others and Running Effective Campaigns.

Young Student Governors at one of Unloc’s events to develop their skills as Governors.

Delegates will also be invited to The Student Governor Destinations Conference, a one-day event in London held towards the end of the academic year. They’ll explore ‘what next?’ in their Changemaker journey, whether that’s taking their learnings into a second term, or utilising all they’ve learnt as a Student Governor post-College. 

They’ll also hear from ex-Student Governors turned changemakers at a national and global level; exploring how to maximise their impact in the next phase of their lives, an ongoing changemaker journey.

Unloc’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Hayden Taylor said:

“We simply couldn’t ask for a better partner than Rockborn for our Student Governor Changemaker Programme. Rockborn, as an organisation, has such a strong commitment to creating the highest level of outcomes for young people, and a deep understanding of the education space that we work within.”

“The events being held throughout the year will provide young Student Governors with a wealth of high quality training that sets them on their first steps into leadership, and empowers them with the skills and knowledge they need to impact positive change. Working with Rockborn we’re able to deliver such a high standard of support to these young changemakers in the making, we’re so excited to roll these events out and see them in action.”

Rockborn’s Company Director Peter Ryder said:

“We are really pleased to have created this partnership with Unloc. We share a deep commitment to FE, to the importance of Governance, the Student Voice and the development of young people. We have always seen our role as supporting FE and this is an opportunity to reinforce and develop that commitment. We are excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Student Governors embracing their new role at one of Unloc’s historic training events

The voice of young people in Portsmouth is a top priority for 16 year old Maheep Kaur, a member of Portsmouth’s Youth Cabinet and the city’s elected Member of UK Youth Parliament. Maheep recently met with two local Members of Parliament, Amanda Martin, MP for Portsmouth North, and Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, to discuss the important issues impacting young people in the city.

In October, Maheep met with Stephen Morgan MP to discuss the Youth Cabinet’s priorities, as well as the concerns raised by local young people through their recent surveys and consultations. As Portsmouth MYP Maheep makes it a top priority to understand in-depth the issues and challenges that young people in the city face, as well as hearing their thoughts on how those obstacles and situations can be overcome. 

Maheep commented: 

The meeting was extremely pleasing, I really enjoyed it! I appreciated how Stephen adjusted his busy schedule to meet with me. I’m glad I had the opportunity to discuss ideas and actions that can make a real difference for young people. I was really excited when Stephen offered me the chance to spend a day with him. I’m looking forward to experiencing this and to experience what his day looks like as a MP.”

The in-depth discussion covered many topics that young people care about, and also allowed Stephen to discuss his priorities as both an MP and Minister, particularly his work on establishing Youth Hubs across the city. The meeting provided an opportunity for Maheep to engage in a productive dialogue around the initiatives that are most important to the young people that she engages with on a daily basis.

Maheep meets with MP Stephen Morgan at Unloc’s Changemaker Studios: Portsmouth space

MP for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan said:

“It’s been really helpful to hear from Maheep about the issues that young people in Portsmouth are facing as well as those which the Youth Cabinet are prioritising. Young people are the future of our city, our jobs market, and our economy, but I believe have not been provided with enough opportunities for a long time.”

“One of my priorities since being elected is to ensure Portsmouth young people are given the support, training and opportunities that they need to succeed and grow. I am pleased to see the work My Future in Portsmouth Youth Hub is doing to support more young people in my community, and help them into the world of work.”

Maheep later sat down with MP Amanda Martin at the end of November to share the results of the recent Make Your Mark Survey, a key tool used to understand the concerns of young people across the UK. 

During the meeting, Maheep talked at length with Amanda about the results of the survey, and of the differing thoughts and opinions of the young people that took part. Maheep also highlighted the formation of the Youth Cabinet’s subgroups, with a particular focus on the Crime and Safety subgroup. 

The important topics discussed included ensuring safety for women and girls in Portsmouth, the potential of police presence in schools to enhance safety and reassurance, and the importance of restorative justice practices. 

Maheep with MP Amanda Martin

Maheep also introduced Amanda to the work of Unloc, our non-for-profit which originated in Portsmouth, and works around the country with young people to encourage youth voice, social action and entrepreneurship. 

Unloc, working with Portsmouth City Council also facilitate the Primary Council of Portsmouth Students (PCoPS) and the Council of Portsmouth Students (CoPS), powerful youth forums which help young people to positively impact and shape the city’s education. Maheep explored opportunities for collaboration between the Youth Cabinet and these student forums to engage younger children across the city. 

Reflecting on the meeting, Maheep said, 

It was lovely to meet Amanda for the first time and talk about our focuses. I really appreciate Amanda’s time and her willingness to support young people. I’m happy I was able to go over crime and safety topic, which is one of the subgroups from the three that Portsmouth Youth Cabinet is working on. It was lovely to hear an invitation for the Portsmouth Youth Cabinet to visit Amanda’s office once it’s been settled completely!

Both meetings mark a continued commitment to fostering strong connections between Portsmouth’s young people and local policymakers, with a focus on addressing their most pressing concerns and creating positive change in the community. 

Having this direct communication with political leaders and young people can only serve to strengthen the voice of young people, ensuring that their concerns are heard and that the right opportunities in society are available to them,

For more information about the Youth Cabinet and their initiatives, please contact: [email protected] 

As the 2025 Young Entrepreneurs Challenge applications begin to flood in, we thought we’d catch up with our 2024 Winner Ethan Waisberg to reflect on the process and how he found the whole experience.

The 2024 Grand Final event was held at Verizon’s Headquarters in Holborn, London, with leaders from across industry sectors gathering to witness our young hopefuls pitch their business ideas to our panel of judges, including ex Dragon’s Den star Piers Linney.

Ethan competed with strong contenders from across Europe to win £10,000, mentorship, a technology support package to help kickstart his business proposal, and a trip to the One Young World 2024 Global Summit. 

With a strong pitch and well defined business plan, Ethan talked about his product AngioGenius.  With eye disease screening programs worldwide not performing well enough and  millions around the world to going  blind, Ethan developed an app where anyone can take a photo of their eye at home to help detect and monitor eye disease progression.  

From his research work with NASA astronauts, Ethan found a way to use Generative AI to allow the eyes of astronauts to be better monitored while in spaceflight, where limited imaging equipment exists. Ethan is bringing this same technology to Earth with AngioGenius at a fraction of the cost to current and widely used eye disease screening programs.

Young Entrepreneurs Challenge 2024 Winner Ethan with his winners cheque!

Ethan, it’s so great to catch up with you following your 2024 win! Tell us, how did you find entering the Young Entrepreneurs Challenge?

The application process was really easy and straightforward. I didn’t need any support or advice during the process, as I just had to record a 60 second video explaining my idea. 

Once you found out you were a finalist, how did you find the experience attending the Grand Final?

During my train ride to London, I reflected on the exciting opportunity to be in the finals and pitch my company to a large audience. I arrived in London the day before the competition, so I was able to relax and explore the city. I was not nervous as I felt prepared.

The Unloc and Verizon teams were welcoming, supportive and they greeted me with warm smiles and genuine enthusiasm. They were dedicated to bringing out the best in the finalists, and created a friendly, less competitive atmosphere.

Was there anything that you were afraid of?

As a clinician and scientist, my biggest fear was that I might not be able to convey all the important aspects of my business idea within the allotted time for the pitch. 

As someone who has conducted research in this area for the past 5+ years, I had a wealth of detailed information to share with the audience and judges. Nevertheless, I was able to be concise during my pitch and prioritize key messages.

Ethan with his fellow Finalists, Unloc’s Hayden Taylor (left) previous winner Jamie Bankhead & Verizon’s Sanjiv Gossain (right)

What did you think of the other finalists and their business ideas? 

It was really exciting to meet the other finalists, and to learn about their interesting business ideas. It’s tough to pick only one idea that stood out from the other finalists, since they each had a lot of potential and were all very impressive. 

As I interacted with the finalists, I couldn’t help but admire the passion and creativity behind their business ideas.

How did it go when it was time to deliver your pitch to the Judges?

Overall, I was happy with how my pitch went. I felt that I was able to effectively communicate the value proposition and core ideas of my business idea and that I had captured the attention of the judges and audience. 

Moreover, the Judges asked insightful and thought-provoking questions, which challenged me to delve deeper into various aspects of my company and provide detailed explanations. I appreciated this opportunity to further elaborate on key points.

Ethan speaking on stage at the 2024 One Young World Summit, part of his prize package as Grand Prize Winner

How did you feel when you were named the winner? 

I was surprised and elated to be chosen as the grand prize winner! I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and validation for the sacrifices that I made along the way to reach this point.

What do you intend to do with the grand prize money?

I plan on using this prize money to conduct further clinical testing of my idea. Clinical testing is a crucial step to not only validate the safety and efficacy of my solution, but to also provide insights to further refine and optimize my business idea. 

What advice would you give to other young people out there considering entering the 2025  competition? 

My advice would be to not think twice about applying! Never doubt your abilities and ideas. I had entered the competition hoping to make an impact, and never imagined I would win.

Ethan thank you so much for catching up with us today, you were an absolutely outstanding entrant and a well deserved winner. We’ll be watching your progress closely and can’t wait to see all the amazing things you do next!

The Young Entrepreneurs Challenge 2025 is now open for entries! If you’re 16–25 and have a fresh & innovative tech-led idea – The Young Entrepreneurs Challenge 2025 could help you get your business off the ground, or if you’ve already launched a business, boost it to the next level. 

There’s a staggering £10,000 up for grabs, as well as a mentorship package and entry to the One Young World Global Summit, so what are you waiting for? Apply now!

Our latest impact report for the 2023-24 academic year is now available! Inside you’ll find a whole wealth of information of the work we’ve been carrying out in schools and colleges across the UK over the past 12 months, as well as case studies, interviews and insights into the work and projects we’ve formed with young people and partners such as Verizon Business, Burberry, Juniper Networks, GRP Solutions and Palo Alto Networks.

Gain insight into the past year with stats such as:

There’s also coverage of the 2024 Young Entrepreneurs Challenge, our Young Women in Tech programme, Inpsring Change, Portsmouth Inspires, One Young World, Seed 2030, school and college forums, Changemaker Moments, the release of the fantastic rap track to stand up against Knife Crime and Youth Violence, our General Election Special Events and a whole lot more!

Unloc 2024 Impact ReportDownload

Unloc and Verizon Business have launched The Young Entrepreneurs Challenge for 2025, an annual event that seeks to identify the best young talent across Europe with innovative business ideas.

The winner will receive £10,000 (€11,750*), mentorship and a technology package to launch their business. In addition, they will also receive a ticket to attend the Global One Young World 2025 Munich Summit.

This entrepreneurship competition for young people aims to encourage and attract the dynamic new business leaders of tomorrow. Now in its seventh year, the challenge is open to European entrepreneurs aged between 16-25 years old who can submit their technology-led start-up business concepts online.

“Each year, The Young Entrepreneurs Challenge identifies and brings to light amazing young talent from across the UK and Europe and it is a privilege to be able to help encourage and support tomorrow’s entrepreneurs,” said Sanjiv Gossain, General Manager and Head of EMEA for Verizon Business. “Young entrepreneurs in Europe often face challenges related to accessing funding and mentorship, so to play a role in enabling their ideas to come to fruition and be presented on the global stage, is very important to Verizon Business.”

“We are in a landscape where technological ideas are becoming the clear catalyst for addressing and resolving some of the most complex challenges in sustainability, climate change and health, so investing in the next generation of leaders and their ideas plays a fundamental part in addressing these challenges,” said Hayden Taylor, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Unloc.

“Every year we’re overwhelmed with the business minds of young entrepreneurs and in a year that has been dominated by the advancement of emerging tech, we’re very excited to see the ideas that entrants submit for the next Young Entrepreneurs Challenge.

“2024’s winner, Ethan Waisberg, impressed the expert judges with his app, AngioGenius, which allows anyone to take a photo of their eye at home to help detect and monitor eye disease progression. His research work with NASA astronauts and the integration of generative AI into the app was extremely impressive, and the funding from Unloc and Verizon will now enable him to carry out clinical trials and help reduce eye disease progression worldwide. We cannot wait to see what innovation young changemakers envision this year.”

Last year’s Grand Prize Winner Ethan Waisberg with his cheque for £10,000

To enter, entrants are asked to record a 60-90-second video, as well as complete an online application form outlining their business idea. Applications will be judged based on their viability, technology innovation and sustainability.

Finalists will then compete head-to-head in a grand finale held in March 2025, pitching their business concept live to a panel of expert judges and invited guests representing both the worlds of business and education.

Apply by January 17, 2025 at YEC25.COM

Notes for Journalists

The ballots are counted, the seats are filled, and collectively, the entire country is waiting to see how the new government kicks into gear. It’s been a tumultuous time, a different election to any we’ve experienced before. So what did we, as specialists supporting young people to be changemakers, learn during this period? 

The General Election was an eye opener for many of us, and the Academic sector was no exception. Working with young people in schools and colleges across the country each day, we have seen young people more interested and invested in political debate during this year’s election (and whilst the data is not yet readily available, it’s expected that the chasm between 18-24 year olds and 65+ in terms of voter turnout will have shrunk).

‘Why is that?’ That’s a complicated question. There’s no doubt that we live in complex times, and young people – more than many other sections of society, have faced huge disruptions to their lives over the past four years, especially because of the Covid19 pandemic. Whilst many workers nationwide were furloughed, young people were expected to carry on and achieve just as much – all be it from the safety of their home, or behind protective screens, masks and social distancing in schools. 

From their routines being abandoned, their educations hugely impacted, confinement inside the house during lockdowns, and perhaps most importantly – being isolated from their friends and peers at a time when socialisation is so vitally important to their development, their mental health and their sense of general wellbeing.

Add to this the perception of a lack of job opportunities and work experience for young people, housing costs soaring, waiting lists for mental health assessments and counselling reaching three years, Brexit and the Cost of Living crisis – many young people have felt like they’ve been strapped into a rollercoaster and thus (in the main) did one of two things; the majority engaged in this general election with vigour, energy and interest particularly motivated by their own recent rollercoaster-like lived experiences, or sadly, they disconnected altogether.

Our Changemaker Moments: Election Special event in London

Indeed this was never more evident here than during the series of televised election debates and Question Time specials, where the British public were witness to shouting, accusations, fingers in people’s faces, and aggressive and confrontational behaviour that many young people found surprising. In the build up to the election, we showed the BBC’s Election Debate highlights reel to hundreds of young people and the near-unanimous response was shock – is this how we ‘do’ politics in this country?

This feeling was emboldened by the campaign’s reliance on rhetoric; where conflation and confusion between what is truthful, facts or policy is mainstream. This ran counter to many of the young people I spoke to in the build up to 4th July, who were genuinely interested in talking about and debating the issues and policies that matter to them the most. 

I think young people expected more from the National Debate around the future of our country – yearned for more meaningful conversation and discussion. With Unloc’s Public Speaking and Debating programme as one of our core offers, we’ve shown young people for over a decade how to have constructive debate, embrace nuance and compassionately and considerately engage with people and situations where a difference of opinion is apparent. 

Our Changemaker Moments: Election Special event in Portsmouth

At Unloc we proudly play an impartial role in connecting young changemakers to policymakers, politicians and activists – giving them access to those in society that can help make a difference, and helping to create platforms for young people’s voices to be heard. With the General Election announced far earlier than anyone expected, we recognised this eagerness in young people to be actively involved in what was happening, and identified that they had little platforms to do so. Whilst lots of these young people won’t have been old enough to vote this time around – it was evident that they have plenty to say about our future society. 

MP Stephen Morgan at our Changemaker Studios: Portsmouth space for our Election Special


So, during the build up to the General Election, we invited young people from across our network to attend a series of events that provided space for them to meet with representatives from all major parties – and discuss, face to face,  the issues they care about most.

Events were held in our Changemaker Studios: Westminster space and also in our Changemaker Studios: Portsmouth space, where respected members from the Labour Party, The Conservatives, The Green Party, The Liberal Democrats and Reform UK agreed to take part and face tough questions from young people in person. These events were the brainchild of Unloc’s Youth Board – instead of a traditional hustings or question time event, they wanted to give young people dedicated time with candidates in small groups, enabling discussions and conversations that go beyond the soundbites.

Young people engaging face to face with Labour MP Stephen Morgan at our Portsmouth event
We were honoured to meet the Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer
and talk with him face to face about his priorities

As the new Labour Government kicks into gear over the coming months, we know that Unloc can continue to play a powerful role in connecting young changemakers with the policymakers that serve them. We met the Prime Minister, Sir Kier Starmer, a few months ago, and pressed the message that the new Government needs to invest in young people as changemakers and directly invest in their ideas; unlocking their potential to be drivers of social progress and change.

Over the next five years, Unloc will continue to push to ensure young people are front and centre of future government policy.

We will continue to take an active part in giving young people a voice, connecting them with government and politics, with speaking and debating, and with leadership –  and through our workshops, programmes, Changemaker grants and Changemaker Studios spaces –  we will scale our support available to young people who step up as Changemakers.

Hayden Taylor is the 27-year old Chief Executive of Unloc

We’re thrilled to reveal that we and our partners Verizon Business won not just one, but two awards at The Better Society Awards 2024! The event, held a few days ago, saw leading businesses from across the UK come together at the London Marriot Hotel in Grosvenor Square for a stunning night of celebration, where leaders from across all sectors were recognised for their contributions and positive impact on society and improving the lives of others.

Through our combined work via the Unloc Changemaker Alliance, we were thrilled to pick up two awards, joining winners from major industry leaders including British Airways, Deloitte, Santander, MacMillan, The National Youth Advocacy Service, Octopus Energy, Vodafone, the NSPCC and Omaze (to name but a few).

The first award is for the National Commitment to Skills & Training  Award,  something we at Unloc are hugely proud of as we roll out our skills focused programmes, workshops and bootcamps across the UK. 

Verizon Business’s Xavier White with our own Hayden Taylor

The second award is the Philanthropy Award category, given to celebrate individuals and organisations who advance innovation, new solutions, and demonstrate meaningful progress in a community, association, or other nonprofit organisation.

Talent and opportunity in the UK is often mis-aligned, with young people growing up in the most challenging socio-economic communities facing life expectancies up-to 6 years below the national average and lifetime income earning potential up-to 40% below the national benchmark (such as Portsmouth). Our joint skills and training programmes are helping to redress this imbalance.

Unloc’s very own Ben Dowling, with Xavier White and Rob Nicol from Verizon Business

This uniquely collaborative approach between a global corporate,  and our own non-for-profit skills and training organisation has:

Unloc’s Founders Hayden Taylor and Ben Dowling with our two award trophies!
Xavier White, Head of EMEA Social Purpose & Senior ABM Lead, from the EMEA Marketing Team for Verizon Business Group with the two awards

The outcomes described above are the combined results of the six bespoke and innovative programmes in entrepreneurship, leadership, career pathways and amplifying student voices, which are curated and delivered by Unloc’s expert youth-focused facilitation team, working in close collaboration with Verizon employee mentors, guest speakers and industry experts. These are:

The Unloc and Verizon Business teams

During the February half-term and Easter holidays this year, 53 young people, in Year 11 and 12, from across Portsmouth participated in our ‘Portsmouth Inspires’ Programme, funded by NCS. This was an intensive 3-day programme which enabled the young people to connect with their community, develop skills for life and unlock career pathways they might have never imagined.

Throughout the 3-days the group had the amazing opportunity to experience ‘behind the scenes’ visits to a range of businesses unique to Portsmouth, such as; Victorious Festival, The Southsea Deli, South Coast Cookery, Nike Unite Portsmouth and BH Live Active.

Alongside the visits the young people also got stuck into various masterclasses to further develop their skills for the future world of work. These included cookery masterclasses, high energy activities, behind the scenes at retail and the festival scene, and using the wide range of facilities at BH Live.

Young changemakers got to enjoy a wide range of facilities thanks to BH Live

We want to say a huge thank you to the organisations and businesses that supported this programme, we really appreciate you providing the access and opportunities to young people that they wouldn’t normally get the chance to experience.

Young people on the Portsmouth Inspires programme on location with Nike Portsmouth!

The feedback from the young people showed how great it was to gain career insights from real-life experiences!The young people on the programme had lots of positive things to say about their experiences!

The Portsmouth Inspires cohort at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth!
Confident in front of the camera? Good with editing TikTok? You could be who we’re looking for!

Email [email protected] telling us a little bit about yourself and your interests, what your ambitions are, any relevant experience you have, and send three examples (or links to examples) of your TikTok videos or similar video work so we can get an idea for your style.

Closing date for applications is Monday 13th May

Download our free changemaker toolkit