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Rebel | 2025 Impact Report
Impact report 2025

We're changing
what business supportlooks like.*

7,926people signed up
3,085people attended
£34.6Madded to the economy
* Traditional business support wasn't built for everyone. We built something that is.

Why it matters

Business support was
never built
for everyone.
We built something
that is.

We find talent in the postcodes that others have written off

For over a decade, Rebel has been educating the people the system left behind.

Business owners who were told their ideas weren't viable. People who couldn't get a loan. Anyone who felt like the doors were closed.

This isn't business support. It's people support. And in 2025, more people than ever took that first brave step.

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Impact overview

People attended
3,085
people attended (7,926 signed up)
Added to the economy
£34.6M
total economic impact generated
Started a business
69%
started or were building a business
Made a sale
25%
actively making sales by end of course
First ever sale
9%
secured their first ever sale
Course rating
9.5/10
average course satisfaction rating

Figures were based on attendance data, participant surveys and post-course outcome tracking.

The people behind the numbers

Female
72%
Male
25%
Non-binary / other
3%
56%
White
16%
Black
11%
Asian
6%
Mixed
12%
Other / prefer not to say
16-25
4%
26-39
27%
40-49
27%
50-59
19%
60+
19%
Prefer not to say
4%

Living situation

40%
Homeowner
28%
Renting privately
12%
Living with family
9%
Council housing
9%
Housing association
3%
Temp. accommodation
1%
Homeless
43%
were receiving government benefits at the time of the programme
60%
had never run a business before joining the programme

Employment status

32%
Unemployed
27%
Full-time employed
25%
Self-employed
7%
Part-time employed
3%
Retired
2%
Student
2%
Carer
1%
Volunteer
Rebel story
Stephen Stovell
High Level Rope Access
Stirling, Scotland

"Before Rebel, I spent over 18 years in rope access -- inspection, maintenance, and repairs across wind energy, construction, rail, and engineering. I came to learn how to grow my own business and approach marketing, sales, and strategy more effectively."

"Now I'm building High Level Rope Access UK wide -- refining services, growing my client base, and building a strong professional brand."

highlevelropeaccess.co.uk →

What happened by the end of the programme

69%
had started or were building a business
25%
had already made a sale
28%
had published their website

WEBSITE STAGE

Published 28%
In progress 60%
Not started 12%

It's not just about business.

CONFIDENCE
+2.8
avg change /10
HAPPINESS
+2.5
avg change /10
SELF-EFFICACY
+2.8
avg change /10
BUSINESS NETWORK
+2.7
avg change /10
Massive +
Large +
Moderate +
No change
Negative

* Attendees self-assessed out of 10 at start and end of programme.

Rebel story
Conlon Flay
Conlon Flay Creative
Glasgow, Scotland

"There was a time when I felt like I was simply going through the motions -- moving between jobs that paid the bills but never gave me a real sense of purpose. Self-doubt stopped me from seeing design as something I could pursue for myself."

"Design has now become the path I'm actively building my future around. The journey has given me confidence, direction, and the belief that I can create a future on my own terms."

conlonflay.co.uk →

What this means for people's lives*

£34.6M
total economic contribution in 2025
INTO EMPLOYMENT
529
people
people moved into full-time work
Avg income: £39,039
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
381
people
people now self-employed
Avg income: £16,409
OFF BENEFITS
431
people
people moved from unemployment
Avg saving: £17,802

* Economic impact modelled on ONS ASHE 2025 salary data and DWP benefit savings.

Word travels fast
when it's worth sharing

19%
Referral (friend / family)
18%
Jobcentre
17%
Rebel Finance / Donegans
9%
Email
8%
Local support programme
7%
Facebook
6%
Other
3%
Instagram

* Top sources shown. Referrals remain the single strongest driver of attendance.

Our methodology doesn't just work in the UK

In 2025 we reached business owners all around the world through our online courses.

Rebel story
Andrew Nairn
Ginima -- Perth & Kinross, Scotland

"For most of my career, I worked in the space industry. After being made redundant, I had been thinking about starting a jewellery business for years but had never taken the leap. The redundancy gave me the opportunity to finally explore an idea I had been putting off for far too long."

"Today I run Ginima -- a jewellery design and creation business producing made-to-order silver and gold pieces. Working from my garden workshop, I use 3D design tools to bring my ideas to life."

ginima.design →

Who is Rebel?

Rebel uses entrepreneurship as a practical tool for confidence, skills and income to support those who need it most. Since 2012, we have helped more than 60,000 people explore starting a business and supported many more through financial education. For this work, we were awarded the Queen's Award for Promoting Enterprise and Opportunity and two British Empire Medals for Financial Education.

With entrepreneurship at the forefront of our delivery, we use it as a person-centred tool to unlock potential and help people build the lives they want, creating economic impact at the same time.

Our proven methodology makes it possible for anyone to get started.

Rebel designs and delivers courses that create social, economic and commercial impact for:

  • People: helping individuals build skills, confidence and income
  • Communities: supporting local economies to grow inclusively
  • Leaders and Teams: developing capability and solving real problems

Our work helps people build confidence, test ideas, make sales and take practical steps towards income, employment or self-employment.

Thank you.*
To every attendee, partner, and supporter who made 2025 possible.
therebelschool.com
Scotland - Report - Delivery - 2025-26 by Rebel Business School