Fresh intake of students getting down to business

Kiani Pou, of the Northland College team KTNT, speaks at the national awards in Wellington at the end of last year. Photo / Supplied

The launch of the 2015 Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) kicks off next week with a fresh troupe of students ready to take on the business challenge.

The programme will allow students to start a small business and operate it for the school year, generating their own start-up capital and taking on roles such as directorships and marketing.

In 2014, KTNT from Northland College won the He Kai Kei Aku Ringa Award for Rangatahi Entrepreneurs.

The award recognised the highest achieving Young Enterprise team whose members are of Maori descent and the award came with a cash prize of $1000.

KTNT created a manuka honey nut brittle, which was made using local ingredients and promoted the Hokianga. Honey was sourced from Northland College's own farm.

The three students involved with KTNT were Kiani Pou, Nathan Tarawa and Te Awhina Kopa. A total of 160 pupils from 11 schools throughout Northland took part in the programme in 2014.

Whangarei Girls' High School head of commerce Janet Lang also won, landing the only teaching award at the 2014 National Awards with the Sir James Fletcher Award for Outstanding Contribution to Enterprise.

Top Energy has signed up again this year to sponsor Northland's YES programme. This year's programme will start with an E-day at Toll Stadium on February 25 and a Waitangi E-Day on February 26 at the Copthorne Hotel.

YES Northland regional co-ordinator Gary Larkan said those who wanted to help the students through financial support, mentoring, media, sponsorship or production facilities, could contact him at gary@northlandyouth.org.nz.