Are you able to support a group of 16-17 year olds as they spend a year setting up their own business?

In the Young Enterprise scheme real trading companies are created and operated over one academic year by a team of students. The students create a business idea, elect a board of directors, raise share capital and develop, market and sell their product or service within school and to the general public. At the end of the year they then liquidate the company and make decisions about the allocation of any profit.

Through the running of their companies, students have the opportunity to acquire practical knowledge of business and to develop important skills that will improve their employability, together with providing vital evidence for college or university applications.

Young Enterprise provides a legal framework for each company, together with full insurance and free business banking from HSBC. The company is also offered the opportunity to take part in the ‘Company of the Year’ competition which operates at area, county, regional and national levels from April to June.

Each Young Enterprise company needs a volunteer business adviser. The main function of the adviser is to act as a mentor to the members of the company by encouraging and supporting the company members. As a business adviser you would be asked to attend a 1 hour weekly board meeting held at school.

Business advisers supporting our one-day programmes are asked to help out at a school for the day, typically 9.00 am – 3.30 pm.
Business advisers are a source of knowledge, a motivator and consultant. They are role models for the students. Our volunteers have experience which cuts across every sector of the economy. They are in employment, entrepreneurs, stay at home parents, on a career break or retired. They have one thing in common – a desire to pass on their skills and experience of business to inspire the next generation.