Beanies, creative photography and cut flowers - the business ideas came fast last Wednesday at Toll Stadium as the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) kicked off with its Enterprise Day.
Almost 100 Year 12 and 13 students from 10 schools across the region gathered with YES co-ordinators to launch this year's programme and kick-start a range of business ideas. The small enterprises are only at planning stages but Ryan Lewis and Tyson Smith of Whangarei Boys' High School (WBHS) told the Advocate they already knew what they wanted to create and that they would target the tourist market with their product.
![ANZ's Cherie Nelson had some hints for the young, budding business brains at the speed mentoring event.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/7RNRP47HKXDFR3GXGPIX4O3O3Q.jpg?auth=ee0069e4de592af410f2bf3e3b417e775768f8596879d0130d3b8cda0ed4f5a8&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)
Of course, the Advocate cannot disclose the specifics of the business ideas, as the products and services are in early stages of development and many have yet to be patented.
Whangarei Girls' High School head of commerce Janet Lang, who won last year's national Sir James Fletcher Award for Outstanding Contribution to Enterprise award, said she had been working with YES for around 30 years. "It has changed since. Now pupils can access global markets and suppliers from Asia. They also have global competition. "