The annual London College of Fashion (LCF) Enterprise Challenge, now in its 9th year, is fast approaching! Our business ideas competition is designed to support entrepreneurial students, helping them become the next generation of innovators.
This year, the competition saw an impressive number of applications, all showcasing talented innovative ventures from our LCF students and recent graduates. Our panel of expert short-listing judges, from Mango StartUp Studio, Eyes on Talent and Dazed Media, narrowed the submissions down to 5 finalists, who will all compete for a share of £10,000!
The diversity of ideas in the pitch submissions, from social enterprises tackling pressing societal challenges to commercial ventures bringing new solutions to the market, truly shows the breadth of knowledge and talent within the LCF community. Finalists will go on to pitch their ideas to our panel of esteemed judges on Thursday, 19 June at LCF's East Bank campus, demonstrating their vision, business potential, and impact:
The 5 business ideas represent a diverse mix of social and commercial creative enterprises, each with the potential to make a significant impact. With just a few weeks until the annual LCF Enterprise Challenge 2025, let's meet this year's finalists making waves in the industry.
The New Elder Ltd is a Creative Agency with a Social/Community-Driven Focus. The New Elder flips the script on aging by turning older style icons into fashion’s leading voices — through intergenerational runway shows, raw documentary storytelling, and a platform where age isn’t a limit but a look.
What value proposition does your business offer to your targeted audience?
We offer brand consultations for authentic age representation, social media management for older creatives, and workshops and events that spark collaboration across generations. Our audience—fashion-forward individuals, brands seeking authentic diversity, and the older generation often overlooked by mainstream fashion—gains access to inspiring, sustainable fashion stories, one-of-a-kind garments, and a deeper understanding of how style evolves with age and wisdom.
Why is your business idea needed?
Ageism is still deeply rooted in the fashion and creative industries. Older people — especially those with bold personal style, creative energy, and lived experience — are often excluded from campaigns, runways, and decision-making spaces. As fashion continues to push diversity, age is still the final frontier. The New Elder Ltd fills that gap. We provide visibility, support, and professional opportunities for older creatives, while also educating brands and audiences about the value of age-inclusive representation.
At the same time, younger generations are hungry for authenticity, storytelling, and sustainable style — all of which older creatives embody. We create spaces where generations can meet, collaborate, and inspire each other — through fashion shows, workshops, content, and consultation. In short: we’re not just changing who gets seen — we’re changing how age is perceived in creative industries.
Why are you excited to be a part of the LCF Enterprise Challenge 2025?
I'm excited to be part of the Enterprise Challenge 2025 because it’s the first real confirmation that New Elder Ltd isn’t just an idea that’s been bubbling in my mind for the past three years — it has the potential to become a real, impactful business.
I feel genuinely grateful for the support and encouragement from my university, which has given me the opportunity to showcase The New Elder community and its wider potential in the fashion industry. The New Elder Ltd is more than a business — it’s a cultural shift. This challenge gives me a platform to elevate older creatives, offering them the recognition they deserve while using fashion and storytelling as tools for real social change.
It’s also a chance for me to grow — to develop the business side of my idea, connect with mentors and other driven creatives, and refine a model that’s both sustainable and meaningful.