Volunteer to help Chiltern Young Enterprise

Chiltern Young Enterprise needs your help!

What is Young Enterprise?

Young Enterprise was established in the UK in 1963. Its aim was, and still is -

"To provide young people (aged 15-19) with an exciting and imaginative practical business experience, enabling them to develop their personal skills, knowledge and understanding of business objectives and the wealth creation process"

In the Company and Team Programmes, the main programmes run by Chiltern YE, Young Enterprise students - Achievers - set up, run and eventually wind-up their own company over the course of an academic year, usually between September and May. Achievers experience the full range of business skills including Production, Sales, Marketing, Personnel, IT and Finance. They also develop a range of skills that will benefit them whatever career they choose. In addition, Achievers are encouraged to sit a unique fully accredited written examination, and take part in a national competition to find the Company of the Year.

Young Enterprise runs a number of other programmes for students from primary to graduate level. In all about 150,000 Achievers are 'learning by doing' annually, backed by more than 11,500 volunteer Advisers from business and 2,000 companies.

You can Help by Becoming a Young Enterprise Adviser

The Role of the Adviser:

Volunteer business advisers are attached to each of the Young Enterprise companies

Advisers play a pivotal role in guiding a group of enthusiastic, determined and sometimes headstrong young people through the many challenges involved in running their own company

They keep Achievers on the straight and narrow but give them sufficient scope to shape their destiny and learn from their mistakes- and successes

By offering both business skills and experience, an Adviser is able to make a unique and lasting contribution to the local community

How Advisers Contribute:

The typical advisers will be part of a team of 2, 3 or 4 business people bringing complementary skills to their Young Enterprise company

Generally and Adviser will be available for up to two hours per week during the academic year, sometimes working closely with a nominated Link Teacher or Lecturer

Advisers help Achievers to get the best from their comprehensive Young Enterprise Business Kit, and advise them on matters as diverse as display techniques and the production of a company's Annual Report

Often Advisers become even more actively involved and accompany Achievers to Trade Fairs etc.

A Challenge and an Opportunity

Being a Young Enterprise Business Adviser is challenging: It is not a soft option, nor is it for the doubtfully committed - and certainly not for anyone seeking a 'jolly'. Young people today are sophisticated and quick to spot those that don't deliver on their promises. From the thousands of volunteer Advisers who do actively participate, the message is almost wholly positive. They speak about

feeling both a sense of fun and real achievement

the thanks and gratitude expressed by Achievers at the end of a hectic year, and

the real feeling of involvement that comes from watching 'their' company grow into a real business

For many, being an Adviser is an experience genuinely valued and enjoyed.

How an Adviser Benefits

What Advisers get from their involvement with Young Enterprise depends on what they put in. For an Adviser offering two hours each week, the benefits will often include the opportunity to

broaden business, management and consultancy skills in a real working environment

see how a complete business operates, rather than just a single function such as production or sales

develop self-confidence by dealing with committed people often in challenging situations

work with young people committed to making their company a success

meet other local business people

How a Company Benefits

Supporting Young Enterprise is an ideal way for a company to show its commitment to being an 'investor in people. For example

management may forge strong links with local secondary schools and colleges

staff will work with bright young talent - potentially future customers or work colleagues young managers will expand their knowledge in a uniquely realistic environment

staff will gain new interpersonal skills and improved self-confidence

the company will build a positive company image with its employees and the local community

With its emphasis on practical activity, Young Enterprise offers the kind of staff training that cannot be found in any classroom.

You Can Also Help in Other Ways

Venues

Young Enterprise companies perform much better when they meet in businesslike surroundings and away from schools. If you have a room suitable for a company (typically 12-10 Achievers) where they can hold their meetings and undertake simple production, we'd like to hear from you.

We also need facilities for one-off meetings of Achievers and Advisers.

Support in kind

If you have a production or support capability - such as printing or web hosting - that you'd like to make available to Young Enterprise, please contact us.

Money

Young Enterprise locally receives no financial support from the government or other funding bodies. If you'd like to discuss sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch.

Want to hear more?

We'd be delighted to discuss with you the opportunities for supporting Young Enterprise. Click on 'contact us' above or e-mail us at David.M.Harris@BTInternet.com