Company Programme

How does it work?

Today, young people need to be more adaptable than ever before, by being prepared to change career direction in response to opportunity and to learn new skills throughout their working lives. In other words they need to be enterprising. Young Enterprise's Company Programme gives thousands of students each year the opportunity to prepare for this working life through the experience of running their own company, supported by volunteer advisors from business.

Students, aged 16-18, are brought together from a selection of all Island Senior Schools to set up and then run their own company over a course of nine months. The members of each company elect a Board of Directors from amongst their peers, raise share capital, and market and finance a product or service of their own choice. At the end of their 'company year' they liquidate the company and then present a report and accounts for their period of trading.

The Company 'year' culminates in a presentation evening, where each 'company' present an outline of how their business year has progressed, through the highs and the lows and challenges and success and ultimately the rewards. Parents, Education representatives and the local business community who have supported the programme are invited to attend the presentation.

Following firm criteria, members of the Area Board then judge this, and awards are presented for:

• Best Overall Company
• Best Presentation
• Best set of Company Books
• Chairman's Choice.

All achievers and advisors receive a certificate to acknowledge their participation in the Company Programme.

The Benefits:

Achievers

The Company Programme enables achievers to gain experience of the real world: taking responsibility and being accountable to their shareholders for the running of the business. They also develop their ability to work in a team, improve communication skills, project enthusiasm and grow their self-confidence. Achievers can also focus on areas that they feel they would like their future career path to follow. They will be supported by the relevant Area Board members and Advisors who hold those positions within the local business community and who act in the role of 'mentor' to those Achievers throughout the Company Programme. This year we have successfully introduced 'Functional Director' workshops to further develop the knowledge and skills of Achievers who hold the relevant positions within their 'Company'.

Advisors

Advisors offer their experience of work and business along with their enthusiasm to the achievers.

They also act as role models for these young people. Through their involvement in the Company Programme, Advisors share in the learning experience of the young people they support, exploring and developing their own Enterprise Capability alongside the students. This experience also helps Advisors to enhance their personal and professional management, knowledge and abilities, such as presentation and influencing skills. The introduction of the 'Functional Director' workshops has been of great benefit to the Advisors in creating an environment that allows their own confidence to improve and assist them in the development of those skills. It also allows Advisors to gain a better understanding of current educational practice, an insight into the world of young people today as well as gain satisfaction from investing their time, skills and knowledge for the benefit of a new generation.