Successful Enterprise Day sets students on road to success
11 February 2011
Canterbury became the first region to launch the Young Enterprise Scheme for 2011 with an E Day event hosted by the University of Canterbury today.
Celebrating the launch of the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) for 2011 are (from left) College of Business and Economics External Relations Director Glenda Lorimer, YES regional coordinator for Canterbury Juanita Reddish, Play It Strange CEO Mike Chunn, CORE Education CEO Ali Hughes, and Young Enterprise Trust's CEO Terry Shubkin and Head of Enterprise Studies - Senior Secondary Robyn Borne. UC's College of Business and Economics hosted the YES Enterprise Day (E Day) launch for the Canterbury region on Friday 11 February.
Canterbury became the first region to launch the Young Enterprise Scheme for 2011 with an E Day event hosted by the University of Canterbury today.
For the sixth year running UC's College of Business and Economics hosted Enterprise Day or E Day, which marks the launch of the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) in the Canterbury region.
The YES scheme is a learning experience in which senior secondary school students throughout the country form a company, become directors, develop products and services which they market and sell. The programme runs from February to awards night in November.
The scheme is an exciting and practical way for students to learn about the risks and rewards of going into business. About 260 students representing 11 high schools from the region attended the day-long E Day event and left campus buzzing with business ideas and armed with advice.
A high point of the day's programme was a speed mentoring session for the student "companies" with College academic staff and members of the Canterbury business community. Mentors spent 10 animated minutes with teams giving feedback on their budding business ideas.
One such mentor was current MBA student Amy Clarke, who said she had thoroughly enjoyed her chance to interact with the students and offer advice.
"Some had already formed strong ideas for their business and all had heaps of enthusiasm," she said.
Christchurch Boys' High School teacher Steve Aldhamland, who for the fourth year accompanied a number of teams from his school, said he had been impressed with the huge step up in the professionalism with which the event was being run.
"The kids are so engaged and they're riveted in their discussion with the mentors," he said.
"The conversations I've been listening to have been in-depth and very impressive."
Young Enterprise Trust Head of Enterprise Studies - Senior Secondary Robyn Borne said the hospitality of the University and the staff contribution had been "amazing".
"It's been a really positive day and I'm sure we are going to have some wonderful outcomes again this year. It's a great partnership we have with UC," she said.
What to read next:
Recognition for Māori history scholar and translator
One of the country’s leading Māori history scholars will be awarded an honorary degree in recognition for his work revitalising te reo Māori as a ...
UC awards honorary doctorate to Margaret Austin
The University of Canterbury is bestowing an honorary doctorate on educator, politician, scientist and passionate community advocate, Margaret Austin.