Success for Young Entrepreneurs

Waikato secondary school students took home top honours at the Waikato-King Country Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) Awards.

Bliss Enterprises, founded by Waikato Diocesan School for Girls’ students Emma Bartram, Beth Steele and Tessa Smyth was named the Wintec Te Pūkenga Company of the Year at the awards, managed in the region by Smart Waikato Trust.

Bliss Enterprises look to give customers a moment of ‘bliss’ and help them to create a more balanced lifestyle with their healthy bliss ball mixes. Their popular product line nearly completely sold out, with their last two units donated to their local food bank, and leftover ingredients made into baked goods gifted to their community. Bliss Enterprises attended the YES National

Finals in Wellington. Other winners on the night were:

• Foster Construction’s Runner Up – Wheelie Tyred, Hauraki Plains College
• Waikato Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Financial Management Award – Floti, St Peter’s Cambridge
• EMA’s Excellence in Production Award – Wheelie Tyred, Hauraki Plains College
• Waikato Pacific Business Network’s Pasifika Enterprise Award – Case C, Sacred Heart Girls’ College Hamilton
• Smart Waikato’s Best Trade Fair Presence – Baking Memories, Fraser High School
• Waikato Business News’ Excellence in Sales and Marketing Award – Bliss Enterprises, Waikato Diocesan School for Girls’
• Smart Waikato’s Excellence in Sustainability Award – Love Eco, Hauraki Plains College
• CAL Isuzu’s Excellence in Innovation Award – Fly Away, Sacred Heart Girls’ College Hamilton
• The University of Waikato’s Excellence in Leadership Award – Tina Hille-Taylor, Fraser High School
• Smart Waikato’s Sole Trader of the Year – AstroSoup, Paeroa College
• Smart Waikato’s Commitment to Business Award – Reclaimed, Rototuna Senior High School

More than 300 Year 12 and 13 students participated in YES in 2022, setting up and operating their own businesses, creating, promoting and selling a product or service, conducting market research, planning, budgeting, managing risk and turning problems into opportunities. YES helps students develop knowledge in operating a small business, team building, relationship management, meeting procedures, record keeping, the legal requirements for running a business and the process of reporting company performance. Its value is far-reaching, providing students with skills to equip them for life after school. The YES experience also adds depth to a curriculum vitae when seeking employment.

All teams at the regional awards were standout performers in the YES competition throughout the year and pitched to a panel of judges. YES Waikato co-ordinator Maddie Walker, of Smart Waikato Trust, was impressed with the creativity and resilience of this year’s teams.

“It’s been a challenging few years for all business in New Zealand, and our young people have really stepped up and embraced these challenges. These awards are a reflection of the very talented young entrepreneurs we have here in Waikato,” Maddie says.

YES is sponsored in the Waikato by Wintec Te Pūkenga, Waikato Pacific Business Network, the University of Waikato, EMA, Waikato Chamber of Commerce, CAL Isuzu, Foster Construction, and Waikato Business News.