12-Year-Old From Leeds Wins GoHenry Dream Big Competition

Ever had a brilliant idea for a business? Maybe you thought about selling homemade lemonade or starting a dog-walking service. Well, some people take those ideas and run with them, even when they're still in school. On November 24, 2025, a young entrepreneur from Leeds showed everyone just how it’s done. A 12-year-old boy named Prince has just been named one of the winners of the GoHenry Dream Big Competition, proving that you’re never too young to chase your dreams. His incredible business idea, which helps other kids, caught the attention of the judges and won him a cool £1,000 to grow his company. This is the story of how a simple idea, born when he was just five, turned into an award-winning business.

What is the Dream Big competition?

So, what’s all the fuss about? The Dream Big Competition is an annual event run by GoHenry, the money app designed to help kids and teens learn all about managing their cash. It’s all about supporting the amazing ambitions of young people, from Gen Z right down to the youngest, Gen Alpha. Think of it as a launchpad for incredible ideas. The competition isn’t just about making money; it's split into three categories: Community, Talent, and Kidpreneur. A ‘kidpreneur’ is just a cool name for a young person who starts their own business. This year, the competition was massive, with over 6,000 kids from all over the country sharing their dreams. Out of all those entries, only nine were chosen as winners, each receiving £1,000 to help make their big idea a reality. That money can be a game-changer when you're just starting out. It's the kind of support that helps young people learn about more than just how to spend; it teaches them how to save and invest in their own future.

Meet Prince, the kidpreneur with a big heart

Prince, from Leeds, is not your average 12-year-old. He’s a proper business owner. He won his prize in the Kidpreneur category for his brilliant business selling fidget toys and sensory products. And can you believe it? His journey as a boss started when he was just five years old. His first products were handmade soaps with little toys hidden inside. What started as a fun project became something much bigger when Prince realised his creations were really helpful for neurodivergent children. Neurodivergent is a term used to describe people whose brains work a bit differently, which can affect how they learn and interact with the world. Think of conditions like autism or ADHD. Seeing that his fidget toy business could make a real difference inspired Prince to keep going. His passion shows that a business can be about more than just money; it can be about helping people too.

How the winners were chosen

Picking just nine winners from over 6,000 entries sounds like a tough job, right? A shortlist of 30 finalists was created, and then a panel of expert judges had the difficult task of making the final decision, with a public vote also helping. These weren't just any judges, either. The panel was packed with inspiring people:

• Louise Hill, the founder of GoHenry
• Sam Teale, a successful entrepreneur
• Tim Campbell MBE, who you might know from The Apprentice
• Alfie Watts, winner of BBC's Race Across the World and a mental health ambassador
• Harlow White, a popular teen equestrian

Having such an experienced panel of judges means the competition is about finding kids with real potential and great ideas. For Prince to get the nod from people like that is a huge achievement and a sign that his business has a very bright future ahead.

Big plans for the £1,000 prize

Winning £1,000 is amazing, but what really matters is how you use it. Prince already has a solid plan to grow his fidget toy business. He’s moved on from handmade soaps and now has a 3D-printed product called the “Fun Fidget Pro,” which he sells at pop-up shops and online. He wants to use the prize money to take his business to the next level. His plans include developing new designs for his fidget toy range, building a proper website to reach more customers, and improving his packaging to make his products look even more professional. These steps are all about building a strong foundation for his business. His ultimate ambitions are to sell his products internationally and continue to support neurodivergent children and adults along the way. It’s a great example of how a young person can learn to earn money and then invest it back into their dreams.

Words from the winner and the founder

Prince was clearly over the moon about his win. He said:

“I was so excited when I found out I was one of the winners of GoHenry’s Dream Big Competition! I’m planning to use the prize money to expand my range of fidget toy products to bring joy to many more children, while also supporting neurodivergent children and their families. I want to reach as many children as possible with my toys and also inspire other kids like me to follow their dreams.”

Louise Hill, GoHenry’s Founder, was just as impressed. She commented:

“Every year, I am hugely impressed by the passion and ambition of all the entrants to our Dream Big Competition. From aspiring sports stars to kidpreneurs and community champions, it’s amazing to see how the next generation is taking the initiative and following their dreams. A big congratulations to Prince and all of our Dream Big winners!”

Why financial education for kids matters so much

Stories like Prince's really show why learning about money from a young age is so important. It's not just about knowing how many pennies are in a pound. It's about understanding how to earn, save, spend, and invest responsibly. That's where companies offering financial services for young people, like GoHenry, come in. They provide tools that give kids hands-on experience with money, but with parents able to look over their shoulder. This kind of financial education helps kids build confidence and skills that will last a lifetime. When kids learn how to manage their pocket money, they're also learning how to plan for the future. Prince’s story is a perfect example of this in action: he had an idea, turned it into a business, and now he’s reinvesting his earnings to make it even bigger. It’s a powerful lesson that will hopefully inspire many other kids to follow their own ambitions.