2020 vision: tomorrow’s stars

Edie Lush

Who will be the rising stars of the business world by the end of the next decade? We set out to find the Richard Bransons and Charles Dunstones of the next generation – under-25s who already have a track record of business start-ups and social entrepreneurship. Edie Lush talks to ten of them

Rajeeb Dey, 22, founder of English Secondary Students’ Association and Enternships.com

ESSA is the first national student-run organisation working to provide students aged 11 to 19 with a greater voice and role in education. Dey began work on developing ESSA in November 2003 while studying for his A-levels. He first came up with the idea after hearing about secondary student unions in other European countries which had been able to generate widespread support. ESSA is currently working on engaging over 6,000 students in campaigning and volunteering activities through its ‘Campaign for Change’ programme. It is launching its membership pack for schools with the support of the Trades Union Congress and teaching unions. Dey’s work in entrepreneurship has led to him being invited to become one of the first ‘Connectors’ – ambassadors – for the Make Your Mark Campaign, aiming to promote entrepreneurship in the UK. His latest entrepreneurial venture is Enternships.com, a service providing ‘entrepreneurial internships’ by connecting talented students to fast-growth companies. He has also been selected by the government’s Global Entrepreneur Programme (run by UK Trade & Investment) to spearhead the development of an innovative early-stage Venture Capital Fund.

Louis Barnett, 16, founder of Chokolit

Barnett transformed his hobby into a full-time business after spotting a gap in the market for making packaging out of chocolate. After suffering from problems at school, Barnett was diagnosed with dyslexia and was thereafter educated at home. It was there that he discovered a book on cakes and decorations. He started making limited quantities for his family and friends, but by Christmas 2005 the demand for Louis’s creations had grown so much he soon realised he could turn his passion into a profitable business. He wanted to make his product more marketable through packaging but had limited funds and wanted to create some thing that wouldn’t be thrown away. It was then that the unique idea struck him – make the packaging out of chocolate. Barnett now has a staff of six in his Staffordshire-based factory and is currently the youngest supplier to Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. He is also in talks with Tesco, Harrods and Fortnum & Mason’s. Barnett is also to head up a campaign against the trading standards legislation on the listing of vegetable oil, which led to him receiving an invitation to meet the Prime Minister and David Cameron.