Why we’re supporting the Young Green Briton Challenge

Each year’s Challenge begins with teachers using YGBC lesson plans to help students explore the causes and impacts of climate change in their local area. The YGBC team and volunteers then deliver one-day Design Sprint Workshops.

Following this, the student teams pitch for investment at an ‘Eco Dragons Den’ hosted by their school. Each school has the option to apply for seed funding for their chosen top teams in the ‘Make It Happen’ phase, as well as mentorship by expert volunteers.

One team project is selected from each school to attend the National Awards. This year’s event is taking place at London City Hall on 1 July 2025, where successful teams will receive up to £1,000 to grow the impact of their idea.

Taking action on climate change

The Challenge is more than just a competition. It’s also a platform to nurture, support and celebrate youth-led, school-based climate action.

From upcycled fashion lines to community energy projects, the ideas that emerge from The Challenge are inspiring and, more importantly, actionable.

Participants are guided through a structured programme that builds skills in problem solving, teamwork, communication and climate literacy. They learn how to take a problem, analyse it, ideate a solution and pitch it – much like any green entrepreneur or changemaker would in the real world.

That’s why we’re supporting the programme: the future belongs to those who are ready to shape it.

Building a greener Britain

We’ve spent 30 years pioneering change in the energy sector. But we know that solving the climate crisis can’t be done by one company or one generation alone.

The solutions of tomorrow will come from fresh perspectives, unburdened by the status quo. That’s exactly what the Young Green Briton Challenge nurtures.

We also believe that education must evolve to meet the needs of the planet. That means moving beyond textbooks to the kind of hands-on, real-world learning that this initiative champions.

It’s not just about raising awareness of the climate crisis; it’s about giving young people the tools, the confidence and the platform to do something about it.

Supporting the Young Green Briton Challenge aligns perfectly with our mission to create a greener Britain. It’s an investment not only in the next generation of environmental leaders, but also in a cultural shift that places sustainability at the heart of our communities.

Our involvement with The Challenge goes much further than the initial investment Dale Vince made in 2022.

Since then, Ecotricity employees and partners have taken on a variety of volunteering roles that support the schools taking part in the Challenge in their local communities. This includes:

Design Sprint Facilitators – engaging with and inspiring the students in one-day workshops where the students develop their ideas.

Eco Dragons Den Panellists – using their deep green knowledge to assess the ideas and offer feedback.

Mentors – working with students on implementing their climate solutions in a feasible and impactful way.

Expert Session Hosts – providing specialist subject matter advice to students in Q&A sessions.

The Young Green Briton Challenge is a rallying cry to young people: your voice matters, your ideas count, and your actions can lead to real change.

We’re proud to stand behind that message – and even prouder to help amplify it.