THIS year's 'Thurrock's Next Top Boss' programme launched today (Tuesday, 10 January).

This year c2c has partnered with Thurrock Council's Inspire Youth Hub to set 11 schools and one college in Thurrock, a business challenge to respond to.

Thurrock Council's cabinet member for children's services and education, Cllr Barry Johnson, said: "Now in its 13th year, Thurrock's Next Top Boss provides young people in Thurrock with a great opportunity to work with local employers on real business challenges.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for young people to learn and engage first-hand from a major local employer, gaining skills and experiences that are really beneficial to their CV.

"I am personally really excited for this year's programme, and I am honoured to have been asked to be part of the judging panel. I can't wait to see the responses from the young people to the business challenge c2c have set. I would like to wish all participating schools and students the best of luck."

Since the coronavirus pandemic the programme has evolved. Today, c2c set their challenge to this year's participating schools virtually and they have eight weeks to respond to the challenge, working with c2c, before participants come together for an award evening in March.

Managing Director of c2c Rob Mullen said: "We are so excited to be a part of this brilliant initiative; the Thurrock's Next Top Boss programme has a fantastic legacy in the local community so we're really proud to be the programme partner for 2023.

"We have posed a real business challenge that we hope will inspire the students and generate some really creative ideas to support our communities; we can't wait to see what they come up with over the next few months."

Over the years, some of the responses to business challenges have been bought to life by local employers and young people have really benefitted from being part of the programme. At the launch event today, a legacy film was also shared which gives an incredible overview of Thurrock's Next Top boss thus far. The video can be viewed on the council's YouTube channel: Managing Director