Guests including Tess Daly, Jerry Hall and Erin O’Connor were entertained by Strictly Come Dancing stars Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone and Will Young, whilst they enjoyed a three-course meal and cocktails, surrounded by Swarovski crystals.

As a Prince’s Trust Ambassador, Vernon Kay said:

‘It gives young people another chance, those who have been dealt a dodgy hand of cards from being abused as a child, drug addiction, for example, the Prince’s Trust makes them feel that they’re not an anomaly. Nights like this are how the trust gets its money. These things don’t come cheap, especially in this day and age. Apparently there’s a credit crunch but people are still giving.’

Tickets for the ball cost £325 – with event raising over £90,000 to help young people in Britain.

Stay tuned to The Prince’s Trust channel on t5m to stay up-to-date with all the charity’s news.

The Prince’s Trust celebrated 25 years of “the Business Programme” at the Enterprise Leadership Conference and t5m.com (in association with WEXO – a new Work Experience Network) were there to speak to some of people taking part. HRH The Prince of Wales and The Right Honourable Alistair Darling (Chancellor of the Exchequer) were in attendance and Lord Young (one time Cabinet Minister and FTSE 100 Chairman and ever active start-up investor), Lloyd Dorfman (Founding Chairman of Travelex), James Caan and Deboarah Meaden from Dragon’s Den and Ex-Apprentice Tim Campbell amongst others were all there to share their thoughts. Go to t5m.com to find out more about what they had to say – from their work with the trust, to their own unique experiences and their advice for people trying to make it in today’s increasingly tough business climate. Register to win an executive attache case kindly donated by Dunhill.

By Robin Kennedy

Simon Masters left school with no qualifications and few prospects. The young man went straight into the British Army, where he developed an idea for his own business. After completing his service in the forces, he returned to his family home in Sussex to pursue his dream. His plan was to set up Masterplant, now a thriving landscaping, groundworks and conservation business operating in Kent and Sussex in the South East of England.

His local Enterprise Centre helped by sending him on a business course, refining his business plan and preparing him for life as a civilian. The staff on the course directed him towards the Prince’s Trust, which played a key role in helping Masterplant get off the ground. The funding and support he received from the Trust, the Royal British legion and Capitalise Business Support helped him to acquire the heavy machinery he needed to take steps towards expansion, “and it was downhill from there”.

However, he believes that on top of financial aid, the most valuable thing the Trust provides for young entrepreneurs is the moral support and inspiration provided through the mentoring program; “on the down days… you’ve always got someone to talk to”.

Follow your heart and your dreams – go for it!

With an initial grant of £900, Denise Beckett made the most of the opportunity provided by the Prince’s Trust, and in just four years she has developed Design Devils into a success story. Last year she was nominated for a Young Enterprise award, which she puts down to support from the Trust. “They’ve given me the confidence to carry on” said Beckett.

Denise Beckett’s business, Design Devils, started out as an interior design company, but ran into some problems finding a large enough customer base. Where others would fail, she persisted to “stick with it”, and expanded the product range to include original artwork and jewellery design. Her determination has made her into a success story of the Trust.

Beckett showcases the goals of the Trust, overcoming her “very difficult deprived background” to run a successful creative enterprise. As someone who knows difficult times, she advises struggling businesspeople to “ask lots of questions” and says that even when things seem bad, “don’t be disheartened”.

Managing director Duane Jackson set up Kashflow Software Limited in February 2006 when The Rt Hon Lord Young of Graffham, a former Secretary of State for Trade & Industry and ex Chairman of Cable and Wireless, and now the company’s chairman, invested in the KashFlow product. The company has received two rounds of venture capital funding from Lord Young. KashFlow was developed for use by the Prince’s Trust and is now marketed to small businesses generally.

Having won the Apprentice, Tim Campbell went on to work with Sir Alan Sugar but now has his own male grooming business and works with both the Prince’s Trust and his own. Here he tells us that there is no substitute for hard work and integrity…

Having briefly sampled the bar and investment banking, Lyoyd Dorfman started his own currency exchange business the year the presenter was born from one small shop in central London. The Travelex Group has now become the world’s largest non-bank foreign exchange business. Now a Patron as well as Deputy Chairman of The Prince’s Trust Development Board, the Business Programme has been an opportunity to give something back. Along the way he has been driven by ambition and the desire to build a business to create capital. Persistence (not taking ‘no’ for an answer), sticking to what you know and who you know, thinking unconventionally and self belief have been key. In the last 25 years, technology has been the clear driver for huge changes. There are no more jobs for life, the sheer pace of change is tremendous so you have to keep ahead of the game and stay on your toes. As an interviewee, qualifications aren’t what matter, Dorfman looks for some kind of sparkle – for those that could make a difference…

By Robin Kennedy

James Caan is in no doubt that the biggest change for business in the last 25 years is technology. The most common thing he comes across is people with big ideas who don’t seem to be able to turn them into commercial reality. In terms of hiring other people he looks for passion and confidence but the most fundamental requirement is the ‘ability to communicate’. Having started out in Recruitment, his ‘Eureka moment’ was bringing headhunting to the masses. He pioneered this concept through Alexander Mann – ’smiling and dialling’ with the Yellow Pages. His life motto…. “Observe the masses and do the opposite” – watch what others do and do the opposite…

By Robin Kennedy