Nurturing future entrepreneurs aged 10-11. Target is for 1,200 young people to set up and run their mini-business over 6 weeks, mentored by a business advisor. They will create a product, develop marketing, sell to the public at YE markets, and develop employability skills for life.
The Business Beginnings project exposes young people aged 10-11 to the world of business & entrepreneurship. Over 6 weeks they work with a business mentor to develop a business idea, market their product, & sell to the public at a Young Enterprise Trade Fair. This gives them the opportunity to develop skills for work & life, experience business & get a taste for entrepreneurship at an early age, so that as they form ideas about future careers they are inspired & know their strengths.
600 young people will complete the programme in this time frame.
The change will be in relation to the development of skills in the young people involved & the impact on their attitude towards their potential careers. The impact will be assessed through evaluation of the programme using pre/post programme surveys. This will assess the awareness of the young people in relation to their skills (communication, teamwork, financial capability) & their confidence in their abilities. It will also measure entrepreneurial intent, ie likely to start a business.
The key risk is not getting sufficient involvement from young people. We have relationships with 200 Schools across N Ireland on other programmes & are confident we will be able to recruit.
In terms of child protection as a risk, we screen all business advisors to ensure they are not a risk.
A monthly report on progress will be provided with key measures on numbers participating to date. An invite to the Trade Fair to see the impact will be provided. A final report on impact and activity will be produced.
Northern Ireland - schools across the area. Trade Fair to be held in Belfast.
Young Enterprise NI has over 30 years expertise in developing entrepreneurship & enterprise skills of young people. Our Company programme is well established & proven to develop skills of young people. The project uses this methodology and applies it to a younger age group for early age inspiration.
Programme Manager Rachael is experienced in volunteer management & in working with Primary schools, with established relationships with the sector.