Claire Young - Motivational Speaker

‘Inspiring through Business’

Claire Young supports the National Apprenticeship Service by heading up their Young Ambassador Network and works in partnership with the Peter Jones Foundation supporting Tenner Tycoon and Global Entrepreneurship Week.  Recently she met with the Prime Minister for round table talks and has been invited to join the House of Lords Youth Unemployment taskforce. Claire Young has been nominated for the Queen's Enterprise Award 2011 and is also delighted to represent the UK in The European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors.

Now a successful young businesswoman Claire Young hopes that her story will motivate others to realise that with hard work, drive and determination anything is possible.

Claire Young, 32, is the straight talking, no-nonsense business woman who is well known for reaching the final of series 4 of BBC1’s The Apprentice (2008) watched by over 11 million viewers. Since then she has worked non-stop setting up numerous business ventures including www.schoolspeakers.co.uk and www.girlsoutloud.org.uk. She is passionate about promoting entrepreneurship and enterprise to our younger generation and  founded TeenBiz www.teenbiz.org.uk the UK’s first business start up scheme for under 18s. Claire Young works ‘hands on’ in schools (primary through to university age), and across multiple government organisations, helping students to raise aspirations, take off the blinkers and think big!

Claire Young’s activities

Business venture: School Speakers - providing schools with the best of the UK's inspiring speakers.

The government has challenged the education sector to introduce more external people into schools to give students a taster of real life, raise aspirations and provide workplace skills.

School Speakers works with the best speakers in the country to provide this service to Primary, Secondary, Academies and Colleges with an easy route to secure quality speakers for subjects across the curriculum including; business & enterprise, science & humanities, creative & arts, PHSCE, SEAL, gifted & talented and personal development. Claire Young also works as a motivational speaker for schools.

Social Enterprise: Girls Out Loud - delivering enterprise days into schools.

Claire Young works regularly ‘hands on’ with young people delivering enterprise days in schools. She has also set up a social enterprise called Girls Out Loud which works with 13-18 year old girls, helping to raise their aspirations. The organisation facilitates intervention programmes in schools from a one day ‘Discovery Day’ to a 3 months ‘Stardom Journey’. Girls out Loud is also piloting a national mentor scheme called Big Sister, providing teens with much needed support and guidance. Our overall measurable outcomes are; keep girls out of the NEET (neither in education, employment or training) group, improve exam qualifications and reduce teen pregnancies.

Leading Direct-Selling business Amway UK has just signed Claire Young as its new Business Ambassador. She will be working with Amway UK to inspire existing Business Owners and encourage budding entrepreneurs who strive for success to launch their own business with Amway.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is the largest movement of entrepreneurial people in the world, founded by Enterprise UK in 2004 and then taken global by US entrepreneurship foundation Kauffman in 2008. In 2010 Claire Young was a key guest speaker, inspiring and motivating a total of 1400 students across 8 cities in just 7 days. . She also was the GEW UK official blogger.

Claire Young Supports: National Apprenticeship Service, Aim Higher,  Enterprise Village,  Young Chamber of Commerce,  UK Youth,  National Enterprise Academy,  The Prince's Trust, SSAT Enterprise HUB and Career Acedmies.

Mentor to Young Apprentice Ambassadors: Politicians regularly talk about the importance of Apprenticeship; both for the employer and the apprentices themselves. The Government has recently added an incremental £150 million to the scheme.  Up until recently there has not been an effective forum to hear directly from the Apprentices themselves about their experiences and opinions. The Young Ambassadors programme fills this gap as they are asked to advise the National Apprenticeship Service on the services provided to Apprentices. Claire Young has been appointed as Head of this group of 30 Ambassadors, all picked for their expertise, ambition and success.

Media: Claire Young has been a regular presenter for GMTV; discussed business, employment & redundancy issues on Sky News & ITN; has become an established public speaker and even started writing her own book. Claire Young writes a weekly newspaper column and contributes to a number of magazines.

Personally: She is much fitter and healthier having shed 3.8 stones to reach a healthy weight and she is currently involved with a health at work initiative with the British Heart Foundation.  She is an ambassador for posture enhancing MBT trainers and appears in their recent print campaign. Relaxation focuses on her ex racehorse Oscar who is a welcome distraction from the everyday hassles of her hectic life.

Background: Schooled in Wakefield and after graduating from Bristol University Claire Young accelerated up the career ladder, working for beauty giant L’Oreal in Marketing, for Colgate Palmolive in Sales and in Retail Buying for global health and beauty group AS Watson.
Claire Young also holds Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Testimonials:

'A great young business woman; best example of Apprentice to Entrepreneur'
Lord Alan Sugar

'Claire Young is a whirlwind of entrepreneurial energy! Her ethos JDI – Just Do It – mirrors what the Peter Jones Foundation is all about; that anything is achievable if you put your mind to it.  She’s a big hit with our student, weaving serious business lessons with a practical down to earth approach . On a personal note, it’s a pleasure to work with Claire, always a true professional and she always gives her 110%.' 
Peter Jones, Peter Jones Foundation

'The UK needs more Claire Youngs! She’s driven, dynamic and most importantly doesn’t beat around the bush – she gets things done and achieves results. With a strong sense of integrity, what you see is what you get. Our young people have been blown away by her enterprising know how and there is no doubt she is shaping some of tomorrow’s entrepreneurs.' 
Nicola Hall, Hero Project North England 

'HTI are thrilled to be working in partnership with Claire. Our main student campaign Go4It is all about students having new ideas, pushing themselves out of their comfort zones and just having a go. We feel Claire's 'can do' attitude, energy and hands on approach fits perfectly with our ethos'. 
Anne Evans CEO Heads, Teachers and Industry 

'The Princes Trust Ambassadors are a key part of our organisation in spreading the word about the great way in which we help young people and promoting the charity. Claire’s passion, drive and willingness to help is always noted. She is a wonderful role model to the younger generation.'
Annie Lycett  Head of Ambassadors, The Prince’s Trust

'We appreciated Claire's straight talking approach to aspiration and achievement and her ability to engage with young people at two of our national events during 2010/11. Her enthusiasm for what she does is fantastic, an inspiration to all!'
James McCreary President Career Academies

'Claire Young is the perfect spokesperson for Xface – a Microsoft Surface Premium Partner. Vibrant, dynamic, and ‘go getting’ – her down to earth approach means that she always relates to a wide audience; engaging with young people, teachers as well as the business world. As one of the UK’s well known young successful businesswomen her personal endorsement is of great value to us.  She is passionate about young people and Xface share her vision to make things happen!'
Microsoft Xface CEO 

'WorldSkills London 2011 is delighted to have Claire Young onboard as an ambassador. Her energy, get-up-and-go attitude and ability to get her point across, is very refreshing. Her practical, down to earth approach and experience working with young people will help us amaze and inspire as we showcase skills that shape our world,'
Aidan Jones, CEO of WorldSkills London 2011.

'Amway UK chose to work with Claire Young as their first UK Business Ambassador due to her straight talking and transparent nature. Truly flexible and dedicated to her role with us, it is a pleasure to work with her.'
Amway UK Sheryl Franklin-Worth Corporate Affairs Manager

'Claire Young has been a fantastic Ambassador for UK Youth since early 2010.  She has consistently engaged, supported and promoted our work and brings real added value through her excellent networking ability as well as her genuine and active involvement in our work, events and activities.  To Claire Young being an Ambassador is a real and tangible commitment that involves taking part in events and helping us promote and fundraise whenever she can. It is clear to us that she really believes in our work and we feel that she is an inspirational Ambassador to the charity itself and more importantly to the young people we work with.'
Jo Birch-Phaure, Communications, Marketing & Business Development Officer UK YOUTH

'The National Apprenticeship Service are delighted to have Claire Young on board heading up YAN – Young Apprentice Ambassador Network. Her vision, drive and passion to help people develop, succeed and personally develop is second to none. She’s an inspiration to all!'
Sally Askew Markeing and Events National Apprenticeship Service 

'The SSAT wanted to work with Claire Young knowing that her energetic, motivating style, passion for working with young people and down-to-earth approach would enthuse students and build confidence. During the GO GLOBAL enterprise campaign Claire Young expertly used her experience as an entrepreneur and practical activity to get a wide range of students thinking about how entrepreneurial skills can support their success and enable them to make a difference to others.' 
Angelina Adams, Special Schools Academy Trust 

'As Claire Young is one of the UK’s top young female entrepreneurs, the GDST are thrilled to be working with her on enterprise initiatives for our students, such as our annual Young Leaders Conference.  She is a wonderful role model, showing what can be achieved if you work hard, take a risk and are willing to give things a go!'
Kieron Smith Girls School Day Trust

'Claire is a powerhouse of entrepreneurial spirit! The UK needs more female entrepreneurs and she’s is flying the flag high for them.' 
John May CEO Young Enterprise 

'As an old girl Claire Young represents the Girls School Association core values perfectly; treat people with respect, learn to take a risk, work hard, have the confidence to be a leader and not a follower, have a clear sense of self and most importantly enjoy life. We’re proud to see the work she does with young people, helping to shape tomorrow’s generation.' 
Shelia Cooper, Girls School Association. 

To find out more information on how to book Claire Young as a Motivational Speaker for your school please complete the form below: