Young Enterprise Directors Training Day March Tuesday 2nd 2004
The Young Enterprise students began the 2004-year by attending a ‘Director’s Seminar’ held on the 2nd floor of the Menzies Building. Attendance was very encouraging, with seventy-five students and seven teachers registering for the day. Schools consisted of Gore High, James Hargest, Menzies College, Northern Southland College, Southland Girls High School, St Peters, Verdon College and Westmount College.
The day began with Mark Wilson (National Director of Young Enterprise) giving an overview of the programme and an insight on how to match personality types to business directorships. Students then broke into workshop groups depicting director’s roles (financial, communication, production, sales and marketing) where guest speakers from the Invercargill business community gave the students guidance into their chosen fields. Thank-you to Greg Thomas from BDO Spicers, David Ross from McIntyre Dick & Partners, Peter Marshall from Quality Foods and Ross Green from Century 21 for making time for the Y.E.S. programme.
A brainstorming session by the Chamber’s President Kevin Frater had the students selling ‘refrigerators to Eskimos’ where they solved the problem of how to market the refrigerator. Ideas of sales techniques ranging from the ridiculous to the practical, included: complimentary heaters, 24 packs, solar powered fridges, fluorescent colours, fridges full of seal meat – even contoured fridges to fit the igloo, all contributed to a lively presentation, as well as providing ideas on how to solve problems that may arise in business.
A challenge was then issued to the students to develop a product and a business plan using one or all of the four products suggested (paua, t-shirt, CD and tyre tubing). At the end of the day they would give a three-minute presentation to the seminar where independent judges would announce a winner. The students were divided into 9 teams of mixed schools with directors from each role fulfilling their duties. Products developed were: - Time to Bounce (Clocks), Back to Basics (CD audio learning), Stretch Resistant Revolution (rubber fitness harness) Chi-gate (CD clocks), Time Tellers ( CD Clocks),
Paua Coated Mags (mag wheels), Bolder Holder T-Shirts (customized to fit breast cancer patients), Coaster Creations (paua) and Bungy Tow Cords for 4Wheel Drives. Some wonderful examples of the initiatives of this year’s students participating in the programme. We look forward to their entrepreneurial skills emerging as the programme continues.
The winners: Stretch Resistant Revolution
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