Enterprise Week to Showcase Northland Students

4 June, 2003

ENTERPRISE EDUCATION: MEDIA RELEASES 2003

Northland's leaders in secondary school enterprise education are gearing up for a week-long showcase demonstrating why the region has become renowned for its success in teaching students and young people about business and enterprise.

The Enterprise Northland-facilitated Young Entrepreneur Programme (YEP) will be the focus of activities centred on regional trade fairs and school-based enterprise activities, culminating with seminars featuring Warehouse company founder, Stephen Tindall, and Telecom.

YEP, which is being trialed in Northland for national application through an Industry New Zealand grant, aims to ensure that Young Enterprise Scheme students have an opportunity to take what they have learnt and apply it in a real business environment.

YEP director, Frank Leadley , says the eleven Northland secondary schools that are participating in the YEP programme will be involved in a series of school-based activities during Enterprise Week to highlight the enterprise activities in their school. Many will take the opportunity to present the first set of awards in the Enterprise Leadership Awards programme that promotes leadership excellence.

The highlight of Enterprise Week will involve participation by up to 250 students, teachers, mentors and parents in two seminars in Whangarei on June 19.

Mr Tindall will lead the first seminar, telling students about his early life and experiences, how The Warehouse became established, and what personal and general experiences, and attitudes, are required to create an entrepreneur and business leader.

Mr Leadley says students will then discuss how they can incorporate similar attitudes and skills into their business ambitions.

Telecom will provide a workshop on how YES and YEP companies can take full advantage of developments in information technology.

The June Enterprise Week activities follow a breakfast meeting on Friday May 30 between the Minister for Economic Development, the Hon Jim Anderton, and YEP students and Enterprise Co-ordinators (sponsored by Top Energy and Northpower).

This was followed by a June 4 meeting with Minister of Education Trevor Mallard and Ministry officials in Kerikeri.

Mr Leadley says both Mr Anderton and Mr Mallard were obviously very impressed by the attitudes and enthusiasm of the students who attended the meetings, and with the potential for Northland and eventually the rest of New Zealand, of the Young Entrepreneur Programme.

For further information:
Frank Leadley
Director Young Enterprise Programme.
Tel: 027 4756 793 09 4027650