Could you give support and guide a group of young people setting up a business?

Learning support / Mentoring volunteers needed for Young Enterprise (Reading)

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

Young Enterprise is the UK’s leading business and financial education charity and the Young Enterprise Company Programme provides a unique learning experience for students. The Company programme has been running since 1963 and over 1 million 15-19 year olds have taken part.

Real trading companies are created and operated over one academic year. 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-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. From time to time it may be necessary to instil a sense of urgency, raise morale, engender team spirit, and be a catalyst or play “devil’s advocate.” 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.

As a business adviser you would be asked to attend a 1 hour weekly board meeting held at school (Autumn & Spring term). Young Enterprise will provide you with initial training and on-going support.

More information about the Company Programme is available at http://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/what-we-do/secondary-programmes/company-programme/ and case studies from volunteers are available at http://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/about-us/case-studies/volunteers/

Contact person firstname
Emily
Lastname
O'Sullivan
Contact person's position
Young Enterprise Manager
Mobile?
07920 514572

Location description
Reading area - school based
Wheelchair accessible?
Not specified
Car parking for the volunteer?
Not specified
Secure bicycle parking?
Not specified
Near public transport?
Not specified
How much time?
A few hours a week
What times and days of the week?
Mon PMMon EVETue PMTue EVEWed PMWed EVEThu PMThu EVEFri PMFri EVE
Availability required
Any of these times
Task type?
Learning support / Mentoring
Will suit someone like this:
Prefers a specific rolePrefers a regular scheduleHappy to work soloBusiness orientatedSupportive
Post suitable for supported volunteering?
Not specified
Is training given?
Yes
Training description
By the Young Enterprise manager and Reading area board
Is support given?
Yes
Description of support
From the YE manager and Reading area board
Are expenses paid?
No
Will I need my own transportation?
Not specified
Will the volunteer be CRB or DBS checked?
Yes
Are references required?
No
Will there be an interview?
Yes
Are they properly insured?
Yes
Minimum age
18
Do they need a specific gender?
No
How many volunteers needed?
5
Opportunity added on
5 August 2015