At the beginning of the Easter holidays, a select group of Charterhouse pupils travelled to Montreux, Switzerland, for what would become one of the most memorable experiences of their school careers. The occasion was the Youth Venture Camp (YVC), a three-day Sustainable Innovation Bootcamp hosted at the prestigious Hotel Institute Montreux.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps, this was more than just a trip — it was an immersive, high-pressure launchpad into the world of entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable leadership.
Designed to challenge pupils intellectually, socially, and emotionally, the YVC brought together young people from around the world to tackle one of the greatest challenges of our time: how to innovate for a more sustainable future. Over the course of three demanding days, participants were guided by industry-leading mentors, entrepreneurs, and educators — including faculty from INSEAD, one of the world’s top business schools — as they explored what it means to lead, build, and pitch purpose-driven ventures.
This trip gave me a deeper insight into entrepreneurship with an emphasis on sustainability.
Pupil attendee
From the outset, it was clear this was no ordinary school event. Pupils worked long hours — often 10 to 12 hours a day — navigating a rigorous timetable that included workshops on professional communication, the art of networking, and mastering the all-important business pitch. Sessions on Design Thinking, Value Proposition Design, and the Business Model Canvas helped pupils frame their ideas with structure and clarity, while input from mentors kept them grounded in real-world commercial and social relevance.
The intensity of the programme demanded a level of professionalism and self-discipline that few school-based experiences can replicate. Pupils were asked not only to learn but to apply — to test their assumptions, collaborate under pressure, and adapt to feedback in real time. The interpersonal skills developed throughout — leadership, teamwork, persuasive communication, resilience, and emotional intelligence — are exactly the kind of employability traits most in demand in today’s fast-changing workplace.
The weekend culminated in a high-stakes pitch event. Each team was tasked with presenting a five-minute sustainable business proposal to a room of over 80 CEOs, investors, and global business leaders. Before the first pitch was delivered, the audience was addressed by Sandip Patel, Head of Entrepreneurship at Charterhouse. In a passionate and timely speech titled Harnessing the Power of Youth, Mr Patel challenged those in the room to stop viewing the next generation as passive recipients of solutions — and instead invite them into the process of change. “They don’t want a handover,” he said. “They want a handshake. Involve them. It’s their future, and they will build the solutions to the problems we’ve caused.” It was a powerful prelude to what followed: young people standing with courage, clarity, and conviction to share their ideas for a better world.
The teaching was truly world-class.
Pupil attendee
In a proud moment for the school, a Charterhouse team consisting of Year 12 pupils Hugh, Mila, James, and Archie was crowned winner of the pitch competition with their venture GrowthSphere — a scalable, tech-driven concept to address climate change and global food insecurity through smart greenhouses. Their pitch combined innovation with practicality and was delivered with polish well beyond their years. Yet, as one judge remarked, “It could have been any team.” The real victory was collective — every pupil had shown significant growth, producing professional-standard work in just three days.
The true impact of the YVC may take months, or even years, to fully unfold. It’s unlikely pupils will forget the pressure of the pitch, the late-night working sessions, or the moment their idea clicked. But perhaps more importantly, they will carry forward the soft skills, confidence, and self-belief that were forged through challenge. These are the qualities that will help them in university interviews, job applications, business meetings, and life itself.
Many of the students who participated in the YVC might not yet realise how significant this weekend was.
At some point in the next five years, something they learnt or someone they met will change the course of their life. Whether it’s the seed of a future business, a mentor who becomes a career guide, or simply the courage to speak up in a crowded room — the learning was real, and the impact lasting.
Mr Sandip Patel
Montreux offered more than Alpine air and postcard views. It provided an environment of high expectations and limitless opportunity. For the Charterhouse pupils who seized the moment, it marked the beginning of their journey not just as learners, but as leaders.
