Empowering Future Leaders: Enactus Students Tackle Social Mobility in Partnership with BDO

In a demonstration of strategic collaboration, sixteen Enactus Changemakers from ten universities across the UK and Ireland joined forces with BDO professionals for the 2025 BDO x Enactus Voice of the Future Challenge. Now in its third year, the Enactus Voice of the Future Challenge focused on improving social mobility; a core business priority for BDO. Driven by their commitment to building inclusive talent pipelines, the Challenge was designed to leverage student voice to develop innovative, actionable solutions to support the attraction and recruitment of the very best candidates, regardless of background.

In a full-day, immersive session at BDO’s London offices, students worked in mixed-university teams to analyse barriers to social mobility and develop recommendations for a more inclusive future of work.

Using our Enactus methodology, the students were guided through a design thinking-inspired process to rapidly accelerate their thinking and ideation. The need for innovative solutions pushed them to be resourceful and imaginative, demanding a high level of original thinking and rapid prototyping, skills crucial in today's business environment. Students critically analysed the complex issues of social mobility and assessed the feasibility of their proposed solutions with a commercial mindset. This process developed key skills including curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.

Teams then presented their solutions to BDO leaders in a session that showcased their strategic thinking and ability to connect business goals with social purpose. Following the presentations, students had the chance to network and gain valuable insights into consulting and the wider business.

We’re incredibly proud of our Enactus students, whose ideas and professionalism reflect our mission: to shape the next generation of responsible and inclusive leaders. Their ability to connect business strategy with social purpose continues to demonstrate the unique value of the Enactus network. Collaborations like this not only amplify student learning and opportunity but also highlight how business can play a leading role in advancing social mobility and inclusion across society.