A group of young people from Battle, East Sussex took the top prize of £5,000 in the first South East Reaching for Gold competition, supported by the South East England Development Agency and nine top global companies.

The gold medal winners, known as the Young Pioneers, building on their own personal experiences, have developed a franchisable leadership course that can be delivered by young people to their peers. The team plans to conduct a roadshow to share their leadership course across Europe, travelling with their specially-equipped trailer. The team is also developing a longer residential course, offering free places.

Over the last few months the Young Pioneers have been supported by with their mentors from BT and the charity Groundwork, to develop and commercialise their ideas. The judges were highly impressed with their professionalism and presentational skills, as well as their ambitious plans to internationalise their product.

Team leader and Year 10 Claverham Student Luke Lancaster , said: “We are enabling young people to lead change.” The group received a trophy and £5,000 to help them develop their project.

The competition was held at St. George’s House, Windsor Castle where the nine finalists gathered for a Dragon’s Den-style pitch presentation. In addition to the top three entries, the finalists came from South East colleges, schools and youth groups in Brighton, Chatham, Camberley, Slough and Tonbridge.

The nine finalist groups had been intensively mentored by managers from one of nine major global companies and by community leaders, helping them prepare for the final. The groups were shortlisted from over 60 entries.

Businesswoman Nicola Horlick was joined by Paralympic champion Danny Crates to help select the most innovative social enterprise project. The judging panel also included Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Chief Executive Ian Trenholm and SEEDA Director for Culture and Communities Keren Jones.

Reaching for Gold challenges South East young people aged 14-19 to develop ideas that will make a difference to their local communities on the themes of Youth , Community or Disability. All projects must include some international collaboration