YES programme popularity continues

The scheme which last year won a Cathedral College team the regional award for their anti-drink spiking product, has again attracted interest from all over the region.

Christchurch-based not-for-profit educational research and development organisation CORE Education is delighted more than 266 students are registered to participate in the 2009 regional Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme.

More than 50 companies from 13 Canterbury schools will this year gather at the Great Hall, Christchurch Arts Centre on 2nd and 3rd March for the programme’s launch, E Day.

Schools registering for E Day include: Ashburton College, Avonside Girls’ High, Catholic Cathedral, Christchurch Boys’ High, Hillmorton High, Kaiapoi High, Kaikoura High, Papanui High, Rangiora High, Rangi Ruru Girls’, St Andrews College, St Thomas of Canterbury, and Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti.

YES was established to encourage enterprising behaviour in secondary school students.

Teams set up companies to promote and sell products. Through the year they are judged on their ability to present their business ideas to mentors, a trade fair demonstration, the production of an Annual Report and an examination.

As well as the YES regional awards, participating students will be vying for the University of Canterbury School of Business and Economics $4200 scholarship towards first year fees of a Bachelor of Commerce degree, won last year by Rosalyn Avila from the Cathedral College team Clever Kids, who marketed the “Spikey”.

CORE Education project leader enterprise Anne-Marie Kite says the E (Enterprise) Day is a chance for students to come together to brainstorm product and service ideas.

“They have a chance to talk to business coaches, listen to speakers on business and leadership, find out what YES is about, and size up the competition,” Ms Kite says.

During the YES year, each school’s YES teachers are assisted by a broad range of business coaches offering their time for free to encourage the next generation of business people.

“Enterprise is a key strand of the NZ Curriculum and YES helps teach these skills. CORE Education is now managing the YES contract on behalf of Young Enterprise Trust as one of our enterprise services,” CORE Education general manager Ali Hughes says.

“We believe the enterprising behaviour learned through the programme directly relates to our work assisting schools to implement the NZ Curriculum.”