Yorkshire Founders Named Top Young Entrepreneurs In Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe

James McBride and Lyndon Timings-Thompson, co-founders of We Are Social Enterprise, a Leeds-based recruitment business, have been recognised as some of Europe’s top young entrepreneurs following inclusion in Forbes' 30 under 30 Europe list for 2024.

The directors of We Are Social Enterprise have been named in the top 30 business leaders under the age of 30 across Europe in the social impact category, having grown the business since its inception in 2018.

The Leeds-based company’s mission is to create social value through recruitment and has placed more than 500 individuals into work with firms like Willmott Dixon and Morgan Sindall Construction since its launch. We Are Social Enterprise helps disadvantaged groups with employment through a variety of workshops which cover CV writing, interview skills, job searching and general employability skills.

We Are Social Enterprise is one of multiple recruitment businesses owned by the two entrepreneurs which also includes an executive search agency trading in the US construction and civil engineering market.

The company is based in Nexus; a vibrant community of high growth businesses located across the globe with a physical base in the state-of-the-art innovation hub on the University of Leeds campus. It brings together the brightest minds from business, technology and academia, generating more than £100m in economic output for the UK economy in Leeds and wider.

The company was developed through the University of Leeds’ SPARK incubator business programme, a university student enterprise initiative committed to providing support and connections to foster growth. The programme, which is also a member of Nexus, includes some of the most promising new start-ups in the region.

Lyndon Timings-Thompson, Co-Founder of We Are Social Enterprise said:
“We’re very honoured to have been named in the Forbes 30 under 30 Europe list among many other talented individuals.

“We Are Social Enterprise is a business that is passionate about helping people overcome employment barriers, increase self-confidence, and raise awareness of the opportunities that are available to them.

“We are incredibly proud of what we have been able to achieve. We love being based in Leeds, the support we have received from The University of Leeds and its SPARK programme, Nexus and the Yorkshire community has been invaluable in helping us reach our goals and ambitions to date.”