John Wilkinson from ASB and students from Hamilton Girls’ High School.
Business leaders of the future flocked to Wintec’s Atrium in Hamilton recently for the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme’s regional Kickstart-Tīmata.
More than 300 young entrepreneurs attended the event, which is an opportunity to seed and share their ideas for the nationwide experiential business programme.
A valuable part of the event is the speed coaching session where students had the opportunity to pick the brains of more than 30 Waikato business leader mentors.
YES regional co-ordinator Levinia Paku, of Smart Waikato Trust, is delighted with the support and enthusiasm for the programme, where Years 12 and 13 students set up and run a real business by creating, promoting and selling a product or service.
Peter Dowd from Anago and students from Hauraki Plains College.
The entrepreneurs will conduct market research, plan, budget, take and manage risk and turn problems into challenges in the year-long competition.
“It’s great to see such strong interest from schools and business leaders. Supporting YES is important because some of these young people will go on to become our region’s successful employers of the future,” Paku said.
“The business knowledge they develop is supplemented by skills in teamwork, communication, problem solving, negotiating and decision-making. It’s an incredible learning experience.”
YES companies can enter regional and national competitions culminating in National Awards where the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Company of the Year is announced. Regional awards will be held on October 31.
