LDC first partnered with The Prince’s Trust back in 2019 to help inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. Through its support of the Enterprise programme, which helps 18-to-30-year-olds turn their big business ideas into reality, via its Explore Enterprise programme, LDC’s funding and support has already helped more than 3,350 young people and contributes towards a more diverse group of future business leaders; a quarter of the young entrepreneurs supported by the Enterprise programme are from ethnic minority backgrounds and more than half are female.

In 2022, LDC announced it had more than doubled its commitment to the charity with a new five-year expanded nationwide partnership making LDC the leading supporter of young entrepreneurs at The Prince’s Trust. The extended initiative aims to help up to 10,000 additional young entrepreneurs to start, sustain and grow their own business through an extension of the Enterprise programme launching in 2024.

Outside of the funding and support LDC provides to the Enterprise Programme, in the last 12 months, a number of young entrepreneurs have also been given the opportunity to network and promote their businesses and products at various LDC events, and LDC has commissioned and bought the work of a number of young artists to display in its network of regional offices.

Toby Rougier, Chief Executive at LDC, said: “It’s been a real privilege to partner with The Prince’s Trust over the last four years and I’ve enjoyed meeting some of the impressive young entrepreneurs we’ve supported.”

Jonathan Townsend, UK Chief Executive at The Prince’s Trust added: “LDC’s support has helped The Trust to support young entrepreneurs with the mentorship, guidance and funding to grow and sustain a business idea, through such a challenging time for businesses of every size. I am excited for what we can achieve through this partnership over the course of the next five years.”