- 20th May 2025
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Our Careers Hub team partnered with Social Enterprise Academy and Redbridge Connexions Team to deliver Social Enterprise Schools for a second year in Redbridge.
On the 15th of May, seven schools across Redbridge and a group of young people who are currently under home tuition pitched their impressive social enterprise ideas to an expert panel at the Social Enterprise Schools: Dragons’ Den competition at Cineworld Ilford.
The panel of ‘dragons’ included Forogh Rahmani (Director of Local London), Lawrence Gosling (Head of PR, Comms and Content at Artemis), and Junaed Mortuza (HCM Solutions Architect at SAP).
The Dragons’ Den event provides an opportunity for pupils to gain professional advice on their social enterprise business ideas. The young entrepreneurs honed their public speaking skills and our dragons gained valuable insights into the issues that matter most to the next generation.
Social enterprise ideas pitched on the day included an initiative that aims to tackle voter apathy amongst young people; resin coasters made by young people with SEND to build on their physical development, social and communication skills; a social enterprise that runs sporting sessions to reduce screen time amongst young people; and, an inclusive online learning environment for young people that may not be able to attend mainstream or SEND provision.
Taking home £100, the overall winners of the Dragons’ Den were Armoress – Safety In Every Pocket from Seven Kings School, whose social enterprise empowers women, students and night-shift workers with a jacked designed to protect. However, the dragons were blown away by the pitches and recognised all social enterprise groups with an award.
Pupils are running their social enterprises as part of the Social Enterprise Schools programme, delivered by the Social Enterprise Academy, which empowers young people to affect social change in their communities, while developing key core employability and entrepreneurial skills for the future.
Forogh Rahmani, Director of Local London said: “Today was a huge amount of fun. I am blown away by all brilliant ideas and presentations we were treated to today. As Dragons, the students made our decisions really difficult as they all showed great potential as social entrepreneurs. I am delighted that at Redbridge Connexions Team, Social Enterprise Academy, and the team at Local London Careers Hub put on this innovative event for a second year because it’s really important that young people get opportunities to explore their different talents and how they might shape their future career choices.”
Fiona Barrett, Redbridge Connexions Manager, London Borough of Redbridge said: “What an amazing event. Incredible to see the huge amount of talent we have in the young people of Redbridge. Such innovative ideas and pitches presented in such a professional way by the young people. Also, delighted with the inclusivity of the event seeing young people from our Special school and those unable to access mainstream education present alongside our mainstream schools.
It has been a pleasure to collaborate with Local London Careers Hub and the Social Enterprise Academy to deliver this wonderful project with the young people of Redbridge. A huge thank you too to the schools and young people who took part who are a credit to our borough.”
Maya Wenzel, Delivery Lead (England) at the Social Enterprise Academy said: “One of my favourite parts of my job is being able to see the next generation of social entrepreneurs in action! I was blown away by the calibre of the initiatives presented at the Redbridge Dragons’ Dens – they all shared creative and thoughtful responses to local social and environmental issues and have a great future ahead of them.”
Schools who presented at the Social Enterprise Schools: Dragons’ Den competition:
- Oaks Park School
- Little Heath School
- Ark Isaac Newton Academy
- Ilford County High School
- Seven Kings School
- Ursuline Academy Ilford
- Caterham High School
- Home Tuition at the Redbridge Medical and Inclusion Service
For more information on how to get involved in the Social Enterprise Schools programme, please visit: socialenterprise.academy
Find out more
Find out more about our Careers Hub.
UKSPF People and Skills is helping over 1,300 residents in our sub-region to find employment that works for them.
Many of the people the programme intends to help have mental or physical health issues, or other circumstances preventing them from looking for work.
Since starting in January 2024, over 1,300 people have been referred onto the programme, which is being delivered by our member boroughs’ employment brokerage services.
Through UKSPF People and Skills local people have been equipped with the understanding they need to manage their health and wellbeing long term, and locally-tailored employment support; including upskilling adults, particularly those with no or low-level qualifications.
As a result of the commitment of teams in our boroughs, the programme is helping people who were not looking for work consider themselves ready or closer to seeking employment.
- 55% of people on the programme are now actively job searching
- 26% have reported an increase employability skills
- 13% of people have gone on to successfully find employment
- Work Redbridge is the first borough to exceed expectations by supporting more people than it expected to be able to through the programme. Congratulations!
Who is UKSPF People and Skills helping?
Charlie*, a young care leaver recently moved to Havering was referred to Havering Works from the Leaving Care Team. Through the UKSPF programme, Havering Works helped him completed his L1 and L2 in bricklaying, and gain his CSCS card. With no relevant work experience, or connections, Havering Works supported Charlie to create a sector-specific CV, they put him in contact with local employers and helped him register for apprenticeships.
This is more than a job
With the support of Havering Works and a local college, Charlie secured an apprenticeship. After a successful work trial, Charlie’s employer decided he was more advanced than an apprentice and offered him a full-time role, subject to him being able to purchase a starter tool kit. The UKSPF grant enabled Havering Works to purchase the required tools and now Charlie is now a full time ‘Bricklaying Improver’. Charlie commented “This is more than a job, this is a career”.
Nina*, an Afghan refugee and now Waltham Forest resident, was supported to attend English language classes and with help from the team at Waltham Forest has secured employment at the Forest Cinema.
I really felt lost until I received the support
She said “The team have been incredibly helpful and I am so grateful for the support I received. I really felt lost until I received the support from Waltham Forest Council and I now feel like I am part of the community.”
*names changed
Find out about UKSPF People and Skills near you:
- Barking and Dagenham – find out more at B&D Works (formerly Job Shop)
- Bexley– find out more at BBE (Bexley Business and Employment)
- Bromley – find out more at Good Work Bromley Exchange at LSEC (London South East College)
- Enfield – find out more at STEPS (Skills Training Employment Pillar)
- Greenwich – find out more at GGLaB (Greenwich Local Labour & Business)
- Havering – find out more at Havering Works
- Newham – find out more at Our Newham Works
- Redbridge – find out more at Work Redbridge
- Waltham Forest – find out more at Waltham Forest Jobs
This programme is supported through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is providing £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund
