Carly Ward

Having been employed in lots of different jobs such as working in a bar, being a nanny to a new born baby to working in a sandwich shop, beauty salon and even a school Carly realised at a young age employment wasn’t for her. Carly was offered a job as a Beauty Therapist working on a cruise ship but turned it down realising she would rather be a passenger!

Having had the privilege of growing up in Spain for 8 years Carly has gained a broad outlook on life having had some fantastic but also very hard times. The property market crashed and the family business had no choice but to close so Carly returned to the UK with nothing more than a fiver and a suitcase at 19 years old ready to try and build a great life for herself. After leaving college and knowing she wanted to set up her own business she started to look for resources to help her, different business tools and any help she could find. On her travels she found a gap in the market and realised that there wasn’t enough help for young entrepreneurs like her so she decided to create a programme helping young people learn entrepreneurial, personal development and life skills. Carly wanted to learn from the best on how to be the best so she contacted some of the top entrepreneurs in the country such as Mike Clare the founder of Dreams, Adam Balon co-founder innocent Drinks and Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Sauce to name a few, and asked if she could interview them for her programme so she could pass on their help and advice to other young people.

The 12 Steps to Success Programme was born and is a structured 12 Step programme including interviews, videos , workbooks and suggested reading aimed at any young person under 25 who wants success in life.

The YES Network is Carly’s latest venture. The YES Network is to create sustainability for any young person having gone through The 12 Steps to Success Programme but is also for any young entrepreneur under 35 who has just an idea or even a thriving business. The YES Network is a networking group meeting once a month with access to funding, business advice, mentoring, motivational speakers, workshops, special discounts and lots more. The YES Network launched in London in April 2011 and plans to expand nationally.

Carly is an inspirational and motivational speaker to hundreds of young people across the country who she tells “If I can do it, anyone can. Having lost everything in Spain and returning with nothing I managed to get financial support from the Government, banks, The Prince’s Trust and Frederick’s Foundation and build a successful business. Now it’s my job to help other young people do just that.”

“Carly was very approachable and personable during her delivery. Speaking about her highs and lows established a great connection with the students she was talking with-not at. Also including audience interaction was a nice touch.  We look forward to working with her again.” SPEED PLUS

• Founder and Managing Director of YES – Young Entrepreneur Society and Young Entrepreneurs Success  (YES) Education
• Winner of Inspirational Women in Business Award 2011
• Winner of Haines Watts Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 – Special Achievement Award
• Finalist in Women of the Future Awards 2010
• Finalist in World Skills 2010 Awards, Young Entrepreneur of the Year
• Young Entrepreneur Society wins Global Entrepreneurship Week Outstanding Impact Badge of Honour  Award 2010
• Prince’s Trust Ambassador 2011-2012
• Former member of Enterprise Steering Group formed by Mark Prisk, former Minister for Business & Enterprise
• Runner Up in Bucks Ambassadors Entrepreneur of the Year Award, June 2011
• Finalist in the Top Ten Most Outstanding Young Person in the World Award 2011, Junior Chamber Int’l
• Operational Board Member, The Clare Business School, Bucks (Mike Clare, Patron)
• Patron, Hillcroft College, Surbiton
• As of March 12th 2012 Carly secured Government funding for her programme to be taught in schools and colleges across the UK for the 16-18 age group
• Winner of the Universal Peace Federation Young Achiever Award 2012
• Youngest entry in Management Today, Top 35 Women Under 35 in the UK 2012
• Nomination accepted for Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2013