Since the start of the 2025/26 school year, ten Vale Academy students across years 9, 10 and 11, have undertaken a 13-week online business education course run by YESS (Young Entrepreneurs Smart Start program). The YESS Foundation is a global community of business leaders dedicated to inspiring and educating young people about the fundamentals of business in order to develop the next generation of business leaders. YESS is a registered charity providing real-world business and personal development training to 12–22-year-olds. The 13-week programme builds confidence, resilience, and a success-focused mindset – empowering young people to thrive in school, work, and life.

The course has required the commitment and discipline to work independently, to watch over 80 videos (each 8-10 minutes long), complete assignments each week and pass a weekly exam. In addition, students have submitted 3 assignments: a Vision Board, Business Plan for their own business idea and a Business Pitch Video recorded at a Dragon’s Den type event held at The Vale Academy.

In March a Graduation and Awards Evening was held for the successful entrepreneurs to celebrate their hard work, enthusiasm and business ideas. We also celebrated The Vale Academy being the very first school in the UK to introduce and complete in-person, school led sessions.

The ceremony brought together students, families, local businesses, and community champions for an inspiring evening. Those attending the event included Carol Ross, Mayor of North Lincolnshire, Dr Sarah Stokes, Principal of The Vale Academy and Steve Hodsman, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Delta Academy Trust. Also in attendance were the 4 local Business leaders who took on the role of ‘Dragons’ at the Dragon’s Den style business pitches which the students undertook as part of the course. Thank go to John McHale, Actioncoach Business Coach; Nichola Threadgold, Jason Threadgold Funeral Directors; Karen Eddy, SC4; and Sharleen Lawless, Rocal Group; as well as Denise Pitou, the UK YESS Foundation Coordinator for the time and constructive feedback that they gave to the students.

YESS Facilitator, Catherine McHale commented “All students have worked incredibly hard and have demonstrated tremendous dedication and commitment to complete 3 hours of work each week in addition to their usual school workload and out of school activities. The students’ research into their business ideas was evident in the detail included in their business plans. It would be very exciting to see all these business ventures taking off – we have some incredible budding business entrepreneurs!”

The ‘Dragons’ kindly donated towards the prizes given on the evening. The award for Best Vision Board went to Sophie N, Best Business Plan was Amelia M, Best Business Pitch was Louis T and the Facilitator’s award for Best Effort went to Kaari S. Well done to the winners and to all of the students who completed the programme.

The YESS programme is fully funded meaning courses are provided free of charge to all students. We are very appreciative of the sponsor who enabled this course to run – our thanks to John McHale, Actioncoach Business coach who paid for the students to be registered on the course and for all the course materials.

If you are a young person or the parent of a young person between the ages of 12-22 and you are interested in how you too could benefit from building confidence, understanding money, and learning the foundations of business success, please find the details of other upcoming online courses here https://www.yessfoundation.org.uk

If you are interested in finding out how this course could be run in your school, please contact Catherine McHale: catherinemchale@actioncoach.com