100% SWEET Whanganui's Jumpstart youth event to bring students and local businesses together

100% SWEET Whanganui manager Jason Shailer said the Jumpstart event is about inspiring students to pursue their ideas around innovation. Photo / Stuart Munro

100% SWEET Whanganui is launching an event that will provide students with a forum to share knowledge, discuss studies and learn about innovation with local businesses.

Jumpstart is a brand new venture for the local education, employment and training agency that invites all business owners and workers to Cooks Gardens on Tuesday, April 2.

The guest speaker is glass artist Katie Brown who ran Chronicle Glass with Lyndsay Patterson on Rutland St until it was purchased by Whanganui District Council's charitable trust in 2016.

100% SWEET Whanganui manager Jason Shailer came up with the Jumpstart idea and said that Brown has a good story to share.

"She studied in Whanganui before getting into the glasswork. I've known her for a little while so it was easy to approach her and ask if she would speak," he said.

"Part of it's about inspiring the kids. You can have a passion, follow it and achieve things. If you've got an idea around innovation, there is a way to turn that idea into something profitable."

The event is open to year 12 and 13 students who will start out doing activities with Sport Whanganui.

"Following that some students are going to be presenting some businesses they've started up while they're still at school and are actually making money out of," Shailer said.

"I hope the others take confidence from that and know that if they've got an idea, they can make it flourish."

Jumpstart is free to attend, beginning at 5pm for students and 5.30pm for businesses.

UCOL hospitality students will take care of the catering throughout, providing refreshments until it finishes at 8pm.

Whanganui & Partners are financial supporters, while Youth Services will help run the event and representatives from Te Mana Atatu and Whanganui Chamber Of Commerce will also be in attendance.