Future Business Magnates is a business planning competition for all secondary schools in County Durham. It has been established for over twenty years and was inspired by Brian Manning, chief executive of the Esh Group, a renowned advocate for young people’s opportunities in the North East.
The competition has grown to include practical workshops for a team of Year 8 students, delivered by industry professionals, delivered across the academic year, launching in November and culminating at an Awards Celebration in June.
As part of the Year 8 competition, FBM Freshers is available to all Year 7 students, offering a mini competition delivered to the whole year group in school.
A successful pilot programme for FBM Market Makers was delivered to Year 6 pupils in 2025 and a further 10 primary schools will have the chance to take part in this exciting initiative in 2026.
By immersing students in an exciting programme that spans the academic year Future Business Magnates will:
FBM assists schools to deliver GATSBY benchmarks through an understanding of enterprise, creativity and key skills, by providing a mechanism for schools to encourage entrepreneurial attainment and to promote social and economic awareness.
Future Business Magnates offers teachers an opportunity to expand their skills base and experience. It appeals to teachers who have an interest in enterprise or being enterprising within their role.
The FBM competition can also encourage inter-departmental cooperation within schools. As the competition progresses teams are required to work on a variety of challenges. Each challenge will be greatly enhanced if students are able to work with a range of teachers who have varied skills.
Future Business Magnates introduces businesses to the world of education and provides a focus for developing corporate and social responsibility through a structured programme. The programme offers businesses an opportunity to help young people develop their employability skills and appeals to businesses that are interested in helping the next generation.
Many businesses have reported the benefits of FBM as a tool in their staff development programme and have found it provides a method to enthuse young people about potential careers in their industry.
Future Business Magnates not only introduces pupils to the processes of starting an exciting business venture but also gives parents valuable insights into how their child is engaging with the world of work. Because the FBM experience allows children to be imaginative and inventive, as well as encouraging them to challenge their peers, they can develop analytical skills and understand the benefits of teamwork and collaboration.
Parents can collaborate with children on their Future Business Magnates project, this allows parents and children to work together and develop a business idea which will give parents an added opportunity to explore the work their children are undertaking and have an insight into a business start-up for themselves.
On some occasions, parents have become an integral part of the development of the business ideas adding their experience to that of business partners and supporting their children in what is a new and exciting project for them which can yield remarkable results.
Families and friends are able to see firsthand the culmination of the young peoples’ efforts. A Showcase Day held each May, invites the general public to speak to the teams and find out about their exciting project each year.
Any secondary school within County Durham can join the programme. Any business who is based in County Durham can take part by partnering with a local school to offer real life experience and guidance.
The competition launches each academic year in November and ends with an Awards Ceremony the following June.
Each participating school selects a team of 8 students to participate in 6 challenges between November and June. Each challenge is designed to allow the students to demonstrate their knowledge and ideas. Challenge workshops are led by industry professionals and are held at venues within County Durham. Points are awarded to each team on completing the challenges and, following the final challenge, the winners are announced at an awards celebration. There are cash prizes for the winning schools and students.
Comprehensive online content supports the teams with further activities that are completed in school.
Key to the success of FBM is the contribution of local businesses who are paired with teams to act as a business partner, working alongside the teacher to guide the team. Business Partners can strengthen links between your school and the business community, building a long-term relationship which can enhance careers activities for your students and help you achieve Gatsby Benchmarks through encounters with employers, experiences of workplaces and linking the curriculum to careers.
The role of the business partner is to ‘mentor’ the team and share their business expertise. The minimum expectations of a business partner are:
Additionally, Business Partners may also:
Your school can enter with a team of 8 students from the Year 8 cohort.
Businesses can get involved by partnering with a local school to support and guide them with real life experience.
By taking part in the Year 8 competition, schools can also take part in the FBM Freshers programme which delivers enterprise education to the whole Year 7 group within school.
All of the FBM programmes are delivered free of charge to all secondary schools within County Durham.
Business Durham, the business support service for Durham County Council, delivers the competition, using industry professionals to facilitate in person workshops.
Email fbm@durham.gov.uk and a member of the team will be in touch.
Business Durham is the business support service for Durham County Council, helping to deliver more and better jobs and a strong competitive economy.
It is a knowledgeable and trusted guide, which connects businesses with the right funding, advice, and networks they need to grow and thrive.
Business Durham works closely with partners to encourage an enterprise culture, helping entrepreneurs to turn bright ideas into successful reality and students to develop enterprise skills to become our future business leaders.
The organisation manages a portfolio of business property and excels in finding the right space for businesses to grow – commercial office space, modern laboratories and industrial property units.
Business Durham attracts capital and inward investment to the county and develops an innovative economy that enables companies to grow and flourish.
Business Durham builds long-term relationships to foster sustainable growth in businesses, raising economic aspirations and making Durham a place where business is done.
Find out more at www.businessdurham.co.uk.
.
