Source: NorthTec
NorthTec hosted the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) Northland Mid-Year Celebration 2022 on Friday 17th June. This event celebrates the achievements of YES teams for the year to date and announces the winners of the NorthTec Business Plan Challenge and the Design and Print Kerikeri Business Card Design Challenge.
“We had a lovely evening, and the students did a fantastic job,” says Gary Larkan, YES Northland Regional Co-Ordinator.
The NorthTec Business Plan Challenge is a regional competition for short business plans which double as a great foundational exercise for the YES teams when it comes to creating their pitch.
Kerikeri High School dominated the competition on the night with all three winners for the NorthTec Business Plan coming from the High School. In third place was the business Elephant Bush, and in second place, Sail Inc. Taking out the top prize was Insight, a business that sells automatic, solar-powered LED lights while supporting the environment through tree donations.
“NorthTec are proud to sponsor this event and the YES programme,” says Graeme Ramsey, NorthTec business tutor and YES judge. “The quality of the innovative ideas, the business plans and the presentations must be seen to be believed. There are a host of very capable and creative people coming through YES. This bodes well for the future of our region.”
The Design and Print Kerikeri Business Card Challenge asks for a business card to be designed for the individual businesses, aligning perfectly with “Promotion” in the YES programme.
After tough competition, winners were declared. In third place, Blanquis from Tauraroa Area School, following in second place, The Mix Up from Ruawai College, and the winner, from Whangārei Boy’s High School, Ina Rawa.
Ina Rawa is a wholesale natural skincare business aiming its products at the international European market. The focus is on New Zealand-made, sustainable products that aren’t tested on animals and are inspired by traditional Māori rongoa.
YES students were also given the chance to pitch their respective business ideas to the audience, showcasing their business idea to an audience.
The Most Convincing Pitch winners are, in first place, last year’s Northland YES winner, Sky’s Surf School from Kerikeri High School. Sky is the winner of the $150 cash prize draw, sponsored by the Larkan family.
In second place was Ina Rawa from Whangarei Boys’ High School, the lucky winner of a $100 cash prize, sponsored by Jacobus Botha, a NorthTec Business tutor.
In third place Coastal Clothing from Bream Bay College which one a $50cash prize, once again sponsored by Jacobus Botha.
“One of the really good things again this year, is the consistent feedback from our Pitch judges, the Design and Print Kerikeri team (who selected the business card design winners) and our NorthTec Business Plan Challenge marker,” says Gary Larkin. “The standard, across the board, just keeps improving each year!”
The Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) allows senior school students to set up and run a real business, flex their entrepreneurial skills, and get first-hand experience in the world of start-ups. The year contains five challenges, giving experience in a range of business aspects throughout the year, including setting up stalls and selling their product for the YES Northland Trade Fair at The Old Packhouse Market in Kerikeri.
“We find sponsoring this event so rewarding as it keeps us well connected to the great entrepreneurial skills these entrants are developing,” says Lisette Buckle, NorthTec Pathway manager for Business. “It’s a perfect alignment to our Business Degree which focusses strongly on developing business ideas and strategies though our Project based courses. We are looking forward to being part of the awards later in the year when the competitors enter the final phase of their business initiatives.”
