SHREWSBURY · LEARNING BY DOING
Practical experience. People to learn from. A chance to have a go.
The Entrepreneurs Academy is a practical business programme for young people in Shrewsbury. We run sessions in schools and colleges and are building a programme to help young founders start a business, with support from D&G Consultants and local partners.
THE ACADEMY / WHAT IT DOES
We want young people to learn how to solve problems, make decisions and back themselves. They learn from people who are running businesses, with the chance to try things themselves. There are two parts to the Academy.
IN SCHOOLS & COLLEGES
Students work through business challenges with people who have done it themselves. They solve problems, work in teams and pitch ideas. They do not have to want to start a company to take part.
See the school sessions →FOR ASPIRING FOUNDERS
Schools and colleges nominate a smaller group to work on their own business ideas. We help with advice, workspace and the D&G Consultants team. Those who go on to launch will own the majority of their business.
See how it works →THE PROBLEM
Every school has young people with ideas and drive. Some have never met someone who runs a business or had the chance to try it themselves.
What you learn in class makes more sense when you get to use it. Make a decision, try an idea and see what happens.
You learn by trying. Young people need somewhere to get things wrong, work out why and try again.
It helps to meet people who have built businesses, made mistakes and started again. Especially if you cannot see yourself in the usual success stories.
Young people often leave Shropshire to find work and opportunity. We want to give more of them a reason to stay and build something here.
HELP THEM TRY.
HELP THEM LEARN.
THE PROOF / MEET TOM
Under twenty, a co-owner of D&G Group Holdings and now helping other young people get started.
Tom started as one of sixteen placement students at D&G Consultants. He worked on brands, launches and client deadlines. Through that work, he earned a fifth of D&G Group Holdings, which includes the consultancy, storage and shipping business, and our own brands.
In May 2026, he co-delivered From Idea to Action with Dave at Shrewsbury School’s Enterprising Futures Conference. The former placement student was now at the front of the room.
PLACEMENTLearning alongside a working team.
OWNERSHIPA 20% stake in D&G Group Holdings.
GIVING BACKHelping the next students see what is possible.
TOM SHOWED WHAT CAN HAPPEN.
WE WANT OTHERS TO GET THAT CHANCE.
THE PROOF
People heard Dave’s story and asked him to share it with students. That first talk led to more interest, more invitations and opportunities for young people to get involved.
Students from Shrewsbury Colleges Group, working on real commercial projects at D&G Consultants.
At The Belvidere School, Dave and Andy Goff delivered their first entrepreneurs workshop together for 25 students who had been unable to find work experience.
FROM THE FIRST TALK TO WORKSHOPS
Workshops at The Belvidere School and Shrewsbury School gave students the chance to work through problems, develop ideas and pitch them.
GIVE THEM THE ROOM.
SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO.
INSIDE THE BELVIDERE WORKSHOP
After an opening session with Dave and Andy, students split into groups with working booklets. They spent three to four hours developing their business plans, then prepared their presentations. At the end of the day, they pitched to the chief executive of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce and other guests, who helped judge the ideas.
GROWING CONFIDENCE
One student who took part was later made a prefect. It is the kind of progress that makes Dave want to keep showing up.
AN IDEA WORTH BACKING
The student who later became a prefect led the team behind Blossom, an energy drink concept for women. Dave wants to help find funding to develop it. See the idea we want to back →