Young Enterprise 'Company Programme' Devon and Somerset Final

The Devon and Somerset Young Enterprise ‘Company Programme’  Final is fast approaching.

The Company Programme, is the Young Enterprise  flagship programme it is a  unique nation-wide Business and Education partnership that offers young people, aged 15 to 19+ the opportunity to form and run their own company while still at school or college.

The students elect a Board of Directors, decide on a company name, raise capital, develop, market and sell their product  locally at Trade Shows  before liquidating their company at the end of the academic year.

The young people participating in the Company Programme encounter first hand the excitement, challenges and achievements of running their own company.  It helps develop the student’s confidence, resilience and employability skills.

During this academic year in Devon and Somerset, seven schools have participated in the Company Programme and formed their own companies. The teams have been enthusiastically and strongly supported by Link teachers and volunteer Business Advisers, who have advised and mentored the teams on the day to day running of their companies.

The culmination of this year's Company Programme is the Final which is being held at the  Met Office on the afternoon of  3rd May.  Keynote speaker for the event is Karime Hassan, CEO of Exeter City Council.  

Winners of the Devon and Somerset Final then go on to participate in the Regional Finals, being held at RNLI Poole on 15th June 2016. 

Marian Weston , Young Enterprise Manager for Exeter, East and Mid Devon,  said: "The Company Programme is only one of our many enterprise programmes which we take into schools and colleges  nationwide.  Our enterprise programmes cater for all ages of student, from Primary level to University.   

"We are very keen to encourage the link-up between  schools, colleges and local organisations in the area to embed our programmes across the region, enabling students from rural and city locations to benefit  from the same opportunities,  helping develop their  confidence, resilience, skills and experience.  Developing  stronger relationships between local schools and business communities, will create a synergy which is exciting and motivating."