School Enterprise Challenge Grant

The School Enterprise Challenge is an innovative program that empowers students to develop real businesses within their schools. Open to primary and secondary institutions globally, the initiative enhances business acumen and vital life skills among youth. With multiple competition deadlines, schools can engage at their convenience. Since its inception in 2011, over 40,000 schools from more than 100 countries have participated, fostering entrepreneurial spirit and contributing positively to society.

NOTE: There are multiple competition deadlines throughout the year - compete on either track to suit your school calendar!
Step 1, Submit your Business Idea, is indicated by the LOI deadline listed above. Step 2 , Submit your Business Plan, is indicated by the pre proposal deadline listed above. Step 3, Submit your Annual Report, is indicated by the full proposal deadline listed above.
What is it all About?

Application Details

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FOR TEACHERS, LEARNERS AND PARENTS
The School Enterprise Challenge is an initiative of Teach A Man To Fish (charity registered in the United Kingdom number 1112699)

WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
supports teachers and young people to plan
and set up a real business at their school.
Our programme is proven to increase business skills and
essential life skills that prepare young people with the necessary
opportunities, or to become job creators while contributing
positively to society.
The School Enterprise Challenge is open to all schools (primary
schools from more than 100 countries have signed up to take
part!

fostering the leaders of
more effective and fun!
tomorrow!
Resilience Growth mindset
Prizes to be won!
out more!

HOW DOES IT WORK?
The programme is broken up into 3 simple steps, with additional milestones. Essential skills are developed all along the way!
Step 1: IDEA Step 2: PLAN Step 3: LAUNCH
Students work together to brainstorm a Students develop a business plan by Students truly run their business, sell
feasible, costed, and exciting idea for analysing potential customers and their product or service to real people
their very own school business that can competitors, agreeing on finances, and and make real money for a cause of
make real money creating marketing materials their choice
Creativity | Communication Analysis | Critical thinking Teamwork | Problem solving

BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS
In the School Enterprise Challenge, students are the driving force in their own learning.
Participants go out into the real world, make their own decisions and learn by doing.
Young people develop essential life and business skills
that aren't traditionally taught at school which will set Click here to see
them up for the future more participants
in action!

Win real cash prizes
centre of their own learning. Teachers act as "facilitators",
school and community
pursue and try out their own ideas.
experience, as everything is explained in the resources
provided and teachers will learn alongside their students.
community

BUSINESS INSPIRATION!
The business team from Achara Layout Schools in Nigeria
launched a confectionery business, offering a variety of baked
and fried products like cakes, pastries, and meat pies, aimed
to generate income to support their families with school fees.
They adapted their products to meet customer preferences,
such as introducing sugar-free options for senior consumers.
The Enterprising
school visits, festivals, and events, contributed to their success.
motivated her
stories!
expertise through a recipe book aimed at
success!
aspiring entrepreneurs!

INTRO TO
The School Enterprise Challenge is now hosted on ElevatED, our new user-friendly web app.
Participation is via these three channels:

• Programmes
• Competitions

A range of fun activities designed for students to lead with support from their teachers. These
activities are the core of our School Enterprise Challenge programme and focus on developing
essential business and life skills. They will guide the students to generate a business idea, create a
business plan, and launch a real business.
Modules
Teachers can learn key concepts to support their students' participation in the School Enterprise
Challenge programme and build their Educator Scores!
Competitions
Explore and take part in exciting competitions throughout the year to win prizes and recognition
for your school business!

can share advice and support
What is the time commitment?
Frequently
You can set up any business you like! Part of the Most teams dedicate 1 to 2 hours per week to the
asked
challenge is coming up with a business idea that will programme. You can run it during lesson time or as
questions
work in your community. Click here for inspiration! an extra-curricular activity or club. It's up to you!

Register
Business Idea Business Plan Annual Report certificates awarded
SEPTEMBER 2025 2025
There are multiple competition deadlines throughout the year - compete on either track to suit your school calendar!

steps (Business Idea, Business Plan, and Annual
cash prizes available for the best entries worldwide.
Report) will receive a badge indicating their rank
Prizes include:

• based on their performance according to our
• Click here to view
• Achievement Criteria:
• the full prize list
• 🥉
• Bronze
• Best Business Idea
• 🥈
• Silver Best Business Plan
• 🥇
• Gold Best Annual Report
• Schools can also attain one of three levels at the end of the year Sustainable Development Champions
• based on their tenure in our new School Enterprise Challenge
• Special Recognition Prize
• programme on ElevatED.
• Most Enterprising Student
• Novice: New schools to the programme will aim for Novice.
• Inspirational Teacher Award
• Intermediate: Achieved after two consecutive years of completing
• Best Principal Award
• the programme on ElevatED.
• Advanced: Achieved after three or more consecutive years of
• completing the programme on ElevatED.

The School Enterprise Challenge puts young people at the
centre of their own learning. Teachers act as "facilitators",
AenLsLu rsicnhgo tohlas tf rloeamr nAeLrsL h caovuen tthreie sti mcaen and resYoouurcre ssc thoo otal kcean have as many All age groups, pre-primary to
part inp tahret ipcirpoagtrea,m inmcelu wdihnilgs:t giving them thdei fffreereednotm te taoms as you like, 1 high school, are welcome
pursue and try out their own ideas. team per business idea! School business can be ‘handed
Pre-primary schools We recommend involving 2 or down’ to younger students
Schools do not need to have prior business studies
Primary schools more teachers for support Older students can act as
experience, as everything is explained in the resources
Secondary schools We suggest having at least 15 to mentors for younger ones
provided and teachers will learn alongside their students.
Technical/vocational colleges 45 students in your business Consider taking a ‘collapsed
team timetable’ day so that students
Universities are NOT eligible to You can have different teams across year groups can work

more FAQs
ThHe Sochwool Emnteurpcrihse Cthiamllenege? puts youngI pneovpole lavt tihne g parents How to spend profits?
centre of their own learning. Teachers act as "facilitators",
ensuIrti ndge ptheantd lse oanrn tehres hscahveo otlh!e time and reIsnovuorlcvees ptaor etanktes and governors from The simple answer is, on anything
part in the programme whilst giving them thteh fer eveedroym b etgoinning to avoid any you like!
Some tpeuarcshuee ras ncda rtrryy oouutt tthheeir own ideasm. isunderstanding. You could:

• programme as an extracurricular An activity in Step 1: Business Idea
• Schools do not need to have prior business studies
• activity Hold an enterprise assembly on Deciding How to Spend your
• experience, as everything is explained in the resources
• It is possible to incorporate the and/or open evening Profits, gives you some ideas and
• provided and teachers will learn alongside their students.
• programme into lesson time Emphasise the employability and inspiration
• financial skills
• On ElevatED, we provide ideas on Be inclusive - what can parents Your students may reinvest the
• how to work the programme into do to help? profits into the business and/or
• Additional Resource
• different subjects in the curriculum school and donate some to charity
• How to spend your profits

Ready to embark on a journey into
entrepreneurship?
on ElevatED
to set up your school!
Click here to
register!
get in touch if you are an organisation that works with schools
What are you waiting for? and is looking to bring them entrepreneurial and life skills.
Contact us by email on info@schoolenterprisechallenge.org
Register your school today!

contact us

CONNECT WITH US!
+44 7512 234628 @schoolenterprisechallenge
The School Enterprise Challenge is an initiative of Teach A Man To Fish (charity registered in the United Kingdom number 1112699)