Young Enterprise

Year 11 and Sixth-form Business Studies students have the opportunity to join 'Young Enterprise', in which groups of students, with help and advice from local business poeple, are able to set up, run and manage their own company for a year. The photos show the two groups in their planning stages, with advisors Yvonne Wilson, from Young Enterprise, and retired local businessman Ernie Rivet to help them.

The South Downs Area of Young Enterprise held their awards ceremony at the Thomas Beecham Club on Monday 10^th May. Twelve teams of young people from six local schools and colleges had entered the programme this year.
During their trading period, all the teams were invited to attend markets and trade fairs, such as a special market at Holmbush for Young Enterprise Businesses in February, and hosting a stall in Worthing on a Saturday at a special Young Enterprise market in  March.
The teams were judged, not only on their financial performance, but on how they had worked together to set up and run their company, and how they had overcome any the problems they may have encountered.
Nine awards were made, including best website, best presentation, best report, best product, best branding, best business plan, best governance, best stand at a trade fair and best overall company.
The two teams from Our Lady of Sion School won four awards between them, with Vivid winning best presentation, and Modea winning best website, best report, and the prize for best  company. Modea will now go on to represent the South Downs Area at the County Finals in East Grinstead on 19^th May.

Young Enterprise South Downs Final

is the name of one of the two companies set up by the ‘Young Enterprise’ teams. The team of six year 10 pupils and four sixth-formers have decided to make and market their own jewellery, and are looking forward to selling the items at the school’s Christmas Fair, and on a special Young Enterprise stall at Worthing Market at the end of December. Vivid’s Managing Director, Serena Bailey said; “ It has been fun, but a lot of hard work, and we’ve all learned a lot. We have to go to Brighton for stock, and the suppliers don’t always have the same items in stock, so we can’t make the same things each time.” Vivid are being mentored by Ernie Rivet

Modea
Modea is the second Young Enterprise team. Their mission statement is:
At Modea our priorities are to produce and sell good quality cotton shopping bags to the public, making sure they are decorated to top quality by our company. We hope to run a professional and successful business, and we hope the experience will be enjoyable and educational for our team members and productive for our customers.

Product
After several different ideas, group discussion and surveys they decided on their product; hand customised, eco-friendly, cotton shopping bags (size 38m by 42cm with long handles). The members of the company will hand stitch buttons, sequins etc. onto these bags to create unique gifts or items for personal use. Our products are aimed primarily at the female market of teenage years and onwards. We will be selling our products at the school fete and by personal order, as well as at Young Enterprise events.

Two of the Modea Team at Holmbush Young Enterprise Market on 7th February

Information from 'Young Enterprise' website
The Company Programme offers students aged 15 to 19 the opportunity to set up and run their own real company over the course of one academic year, with the support and guidance of a volunteer adviser from business.
Students elect a board of directors from amongst their peers, raise share capital, market and finance a real product or service of their own choice and sell it to the public.
To see more, go to (http://company.young-enterprise.org.uk/company/)