Young Enterprise Regional Finals at Pipers: A Celebration of Innovation and Resilience

We were delighted to be invited to host the Young Enterprise Regional Finals this week—an inspiring celebration of entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and determination. The Arts Centre buzzed with excitement as ten outstanding teams from Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire gathered to showcase the businesses they’ve built from the ground up.

In preparation for the event, all teams submitted detailed company reports before bringing their ideas to life through vibrant trade stands, panel interviews and professional-standard presentations in front of an audience of nearly 200 people, including fellow competitors, judges, guests and proud families in our state-of-the-art Theatre.

Among the standout teams were Grounded and Hive It Your Way, representing Pipers with creativity, confidence and poise. Both teams have impressed throughout the competition—developing original business ideas, navigating real-world challenges and rising to the challenge in every aspect of entrepreneurship, from product development and marketing to finance and public speaking.

Hive It Your Way earned high praise for their strong commitment to sustainability. Their innovative product—an eco-friendly alternative to wrapping paper made from organic cotton and beeswax—was a hit with judges. They also launched a new children’s kit on the night, combining a game and a book to encourage sustainable habits in younger audiences in a fun and educational way.

Grounded delivered an exceptional performance, which resulted in them earning the title of Regional Final Winners. Their professionalism and polish stood out—from their beautifully curated trade stand to a confident, compelling presentation delivered seamlessly by Trixie, Lily, Dembe and Roisin. Their dedication was truly inspiring, with two team members sitting AS Maths exams earlier that day before heading straight to the event.

We are incredibly proud of both teams. Their success is a testament to the power of collaboration, resilience and creative thinking. Grounded will now go on to represent our region at the National Finals in Manchester on 4 June and we wish them every success as they take the next exciting step in their Young Enterprise journey.