Empowering the next generation of young entrepreneurs

Empowering young entrepreneurs across the Liverpool City Region

A new initiative to inspire and support young entrepreneurs across the Liverpool City Region is set to take place this February half-term. The Hive Youth Zone is set to launch its Start-up Week, running from Monday 16 to Friday 20 February 2026. Designed specifically for 13–18-year-olds, the programme aims to equip young people with the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to explore their entrepreneurial potential.

The Start-up Week brings together hands-on workshops, creative challenges, and real-world entrepreneurial activities. Across five days, participants will explore everything from the fundamentals of entrepreneurship to podcasting, interviewing local entrepreneurs, visiting Birkenhead businesses, developing ideas in Start-up School, and preparing and pitching in an enterprise competition. The programme is designed to be accessible, engaging, and supportive. Whether a young person already has a business idea or is simply curious about entrepreneurship, this programme welcomes all.

A fun, accessible, and fully supported week

One of the week’s most exciting features is the chance for participants to secure early-stage funding for their ideas. The programme will award five young people a £100 grant to help kick-start their business concepts. The grant will provide a rare head start for teenagers who are passionate about bringing their ideas to life.

To ensure the experience is welcoming and barrier-free, The Hive will be providing free refreshments and snacks every day. It aims to create a comfortable environment where young people can focus on learning and collaborating. The week will culminate in a celebratory Graduation Party on Friday 20 February. Participants will receive certificates, enjoy more food and snacks and, according to organisers, plenty of pizza! The Hive also invites families and supporters to join in celebrating the young entrepreneurs’ achievements.

Non-members who sign up for Start-up Week will also receive a free Hive Youth Zone membership. This will allow them to continue engaging with the centre’s wide range of activities beyond the programme. Organisers also reassure families that there is no dress code and that participants don’t need to attend every session.

Driven by partnership

The Start-up Week is part of a broader mission to nurture entrepreneurial thinking in young people. It is delivered in partnership with the University of Liverpool Management School through the Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship, aligning with the Centre’s ongoing Enterprise Education in Secondary Schools programme. This collaboration aims to expand entrepreneurial learning opportunities and create more routes for young people to explore business and innovation.

Generous support from Paul Brett, Sir Peter Rigby, and Bill Holroyd has made the programme, and others like it, possible. Their contributions help fund entrepreneurial education initiatives that empower young people across the Liverpool City Region to develop the mindsets and skills that could shape future careers, businesses, and communities.

The Hive and the Brett Centre emphasise that Start-up Week is not just about teaching business concepts, but about encouraging creativity, resilience, and self-belief. By engaging teenagers in interactive, real-world learning experiences, the programme aims to help them discover their strengths, build new friendships, and imagine new possibilities for their futures.

You can find more detailed information about the sessions and schedule HERE.

For any questions, contact the Brett Centre’s Entrepreneur in Residence, Richard Leighton, at ral@liverpool.ac.uk.