A fully funded initiative run through the Young Entrepreneurs programme from the North Essex Economic Board (NEEB), the Earniversity Fast Track Challenge supported young people aged 13 and above in learning essential and practical skills for entrepreneurship.

It blended entrepreneurship with financial literacy, and employability into a six-week online programme that combines structured lessons with hands-on business tasks. Part of the NEEB Young Entrepreneurs programme, participants of the FastTrack Challenge explored areas including content creation, freelancing, reselling, affiliate marketing, in-person services, and entrepreneurship, helping them build confidence, creativity, and initiative.

The Young Entrepreneurs programme is a North Essex Economic Board (NEEB) funded initiative designed to inspire, equip, and empower young people with the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to succeed in business and the modern world of work. In addition to the Earniversity FastTrack Challenge, the Young Entrepreneurs programme brought several initiatives to the region in 2024/25 including support for Young Market Traders with free memberships to the National Market Trader Federation, access to the Rebel+ online business school and more.

“The success of this cohort highlights how strategic investment in young people can have a real impact on both individuals and the wider community,” said NEEB Chairman Councillor Ivan Henderson. “Supporting programmes like Earniversity ensures that North Essex continues to grow a skilled, motivated, and entrepreneurial workforce for the future.”

The North Essex Economic Board brings together local authorities, businesses, education providers, and partners to drive inclusive economic growth across the region. By investing in skills, innovation, and future talent, NEEB plays a vital role in ensuring North Essex remains competitive, resilient, and forward-looking. The Young Entrepreneurs programme reflects this commitment by supporting young people to explore entrepreneurship early, unlock their potential, and contribute to the local economy.

Record Engagement and Enthusiasm

The latest Earniversity cohort, part of the NEEB Fast Track Challenge, engaged with 20 and 24 students per session, bringing camaraderie and new connections made to record levels, with participants collaborating enthusiastically on tasks and projects led by Tutor Dene Botha from Earniversity. Student ratings of the programme averaged an impressive 4.5–4.7 out of 5 stars, showing how much young people have valued the programme.

“This cohort has been incredible,” said Dene Botha, Tutor and Programme Manager from Earniversity. “The excitement, engagement, and willingness to take on new challenges has been unparalleled. It’s inspiring to see young people working together to turn ideas into reality.”

Real Results for Young People

The programme didn’t just spark inspiration and skills to use in the future – it produced tangible outcomes. Participants were able to apply their learning directly to real-world ideas and income-generating projects, demonstrating the practical impact of the programme.

Luca emerged as the cohort’s highest earner, generating £1,198 through applying the skills he developed during the programme. Other participants also shared powerful feedback about their experience:

“This is how school should be!” – Freddie

“I’m so sad it’s nearly over 😭” – Ella

“I have really enjoyed this course!” – Isabella

Earniversity isn’t just an educational programme—it’s a platform that enables young people to earn, innovate, and develop practical skills that are directly transferable to the world of work or business ownership.

Celebrating Achievement: Awards and Outcomes

The programme concluded with an online Awards Event on Friday 5 December, celebrating the achievements, progress, and entrepreneurial spirit of the Autumn 2025 cohort. The event recognised outstanding contributions across several categories as part of the NEEB Fast Track Challenge, presented by Earniversity.

The award winners were:

• Top Achiever Award: Dilly Roth
• Highest Earner Award: Luca (£1,198!)
• Best Final Project Award: Ella Hall
• Community Leader Award: Freddie

The awards highlighted not only financial success, but also creativity, commitment, collaboration, and leadership—values at the heart of the Earniversity programme.

Local Investment in the Future

The NEEB FastTrack Challenge was delivered by Earniversity, and part of the fully funded Young Entrepreneurs programme by the North Essex Economic Board (NEEB). The programme reflects a wider commitment by local authorities to invest in the region’s next generation. By supporting initiatives like the Earniversity FastTrack Challenge, NEEB is helping young people gain the confidence, skills, and knowledge they need to thrive in a rapidly changing economy, while also promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in North Essex. The Autumn Cohort, the second cohort of Earniversity’s FastTrack Challenge in 2025, brought the total number of participants to over 70 for the overall programme.

With record engagement, inspiring feedback, and real-world results, the successful Earniversity initiative as part of the Young Entrepreneurs programme demonstrates the transformative potential of practical, hands-on learning. By empowering young people to take charge of their future, initiatives like this not only benefit individual students but also strengthen the economic and entrepreneurial landscape of North Essex for years to come.

To find out more about available programmes through the North Essex Economic Board, visit our Homepage