Friday 19 December, 2025 – The UK is set to see a surge of young entrepreneurs thanks to a new partnership between The King’s Trust charity and TikTok Shop.
The partnership, called SOAR, will bring together The King’s Trust, which supports young people in securing jobs or starting their own businesses, and leading discovery commerce platform TikTok Shop. The programme, which originated in the US, will be launching in the UK for the first time.
SOAR aims to empower small and medium businesses, entrepreneurs, and creators on TikTok Shop with tailored support and resources to help them rapidly advance their businesses. In the UK, the programme will specifically target young founders aged 18-35, with a focus on those who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
The programme has already seen success in the US, with 80 small and medium businesses graduating from the initiative last year. These businesses, which were primarily owned by underrepresented groups, saw an average growth in sales of 200% and doubled their follower base within just eight weeks. With over 2,500 applicants, the success of the US programme highlights the strong demand for this type of support among entrepreneurs.
This partnership builds on the existing relationship between TikTok and The King’s Trust, which began in 2024. Through its support for The King’s Trust Enterprise programme, TikTok has already helped numerous young people from diverse backgrounds turn their ideas into businesses. In addition to the SOAR partnership, TikTok has also provided advertising credits to help The King’s Trust reach more young people on the platform and promote the opportunities available to them.
Through this partnership, young founders in the UK will gain the tools to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses, while developing the skills needed to succeed in the world of e-commerce. The SOAR programme will guide participants through each stage of business development, providing training in digital marketing, logistics, operations, and building confidence, resilience, and networks.
In addition to the comprehensive training provided by the SOAR programme, entrepreneurs will also receive personalised onboarding to TikTok Shop. This includes guidance on best practices for selling through live streaming, working with creators, and using promotional tools effectively.
The UK SOAR programme will focus on three key areas: developing digital skills to bridge the e-commerce skills gap, empowering NEET individuals to transition into self-employment, and supporting young innovators to scale their businesses within the UK and internationally.
Jan Wilk, Head of TikTok Shop UK, said: “We believe e-commerce should be about more than just transactions – it’s about connection, creativity, and opportunity. That’s why we’re thrilled to launch SOAR in the UK for the first time, building on the programme’s proven success globally.
Through SOAR, we’re proud to work with The King’s Trust to give young entrepreneurs the skills, confidence, and visibility they need to grow their businesses and make an impact. By empowering participants to create meaningful shopping experiences through storytelling and engagement, and by supporting underrepresented groups, we aim to spark inclusive economic growth while helping the next generation of entrepreneurs thrive.”
Jo McKnight, Head of Enterprise at The King’s Trust, said: “The King’s Trust Enterprise programme has supported tens of thousands of young people into self-employment, and with TikTok’s support, we can reach even more young entrepreneurs and provide them with the confidence, skills, and opportunities to make their dreams a reality.
By combining our experience and knowledge with TikTok Shop’s platform, expertise, and e-commerce tools, we can continue to help young entrepreneurs across the UK turn their ideas into thriving businesses and ultimately, take control of their future.”
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.