Young Enterprise North East has launched company, team and start up programme groups for schools taking part in student businesses in the 2019/20 academic year.
Students will have the opportunity to design, manufacture and trade a product or service with the support of local business volunteers. Throughout the programme, pupils will develop vital employability skills that will better equip them for the world of work.
Many student companies will trade at the Metro Centre, Gateshead, in February 2020 and take part in area showcase events and competitions from April onwards. A national charity, Young Enterprise has strong roots across the region.
The regional Northumberland, Tyne & Wear volunteer board comprises Jill Tinsley, Young Enterprise regional manager North East, Yorkshire & Humber, Chris Hyde, managing director, Flowing Rooflines, Gurpreet Jagpal, chief executive, Durham Group, Sarah Pavlou, programme manager, RTC North, Stuart Miller, director and company secretary at CECA, Emma Gillespie, account manager, Activ Technology, Mica MacInnes, head of learning development at RTC North, Suzanne Wright, former senior advisor at ACAS and Sarah O’Mahoney, director, Bradley O’Mahoney Public Relations.
Jill Tinsley, Young Enterprise regional manager North East, Yorkshire and Humber, said: “We have formed a strong group of business people who are collaborating together to help drive forward a learning programme to the benefit of young people.
“The UK currently faces a serious skills gap. A high percentage of young people are not in education or employment and many leave school without the skills they need to succeed in the real world.
“Young Enterprise is dedicated to providing the best business education in schools, colleges and universities in our region. We deliver a variety of programmes from one day employability workshops to year-long immersive programmes. The company, team and start up programme groups are central to so much of this activity and we are now looking for schools to come forward and take part in what, for the students, will be a challenging, highly rewarding and stimulating experience.”
Gurpreet Jagpal, chief executive, Durham Group, said: “As Young Enterprise is a charity, we are always looking for local businesses who are keen to support our programmes and events either financially or through volunteering. We have a very strong regional board who are committed to help empower a generation of talented young people.”
Schools looking to set up a student business or companies wishing to support the programme should contact Carolyn Adgar, Carolyn.adgar@y-e.oeg.uk
