Volunteer business advisers needed to start September 2008
Would you like to become an advisor to a Young Enterprise company?

Local school students aged 15 to 19 set up and run their company over the course of one academic year. They elect a board of directors from amongst their peers, raise share capital, and market and finance a product or service of their own choice. At the end of the year they present a report and accounts to their shareholders. Students gain experience of the real world: taking responsibility and being accountable to their shareholders for the running of the business.

As a Company Programme Adviser, you use your business knowledge and skills to channel the enthusiasm of young people into running a successful business. Company Programme Business Advisers also have the opportunity to work outside of their discipline, and Young Enterprise is a proven way to hone and develop key management skills directly related to the day to day management of any organisation. Through Company Programme, Volunteers can develop self confidence and improve communication, interpersonal and team working skills.

If this is something you would be interested in doing please contact Jan Thompson, Development Manager for Young Enterprise, email: jan.thompson@yese.org.uk, to find out more. Further information can be found at www.young-enterprise.org.uk. The time commitment is 1 hour each week when you can make it during the academic year and this can be shared amongst 2 advisors if is more suitable.

Young Enterprise is a national education charity which aims to inspire and equip young people to learn and succeed through enterprise.

Young Enterprise runs a number of business education programmes through the support of local and national business and the Government. In 2004/05 over 150,000 students took part in Young Enterprise schemes, with the help of over 11,500 business volunteers.

In Reading the main programme is the Company Programme. This involves 16-18 year old pupils setting up and running their own business for one academic year. In 2005/06 there were 24 companies running, with around 300 students taking part.

During the year the companies enter the national Young Enterprise Innovation competition. Teams from Reading have won the South East England finals in four of the last six years.

The students get to learn about company finance, marketing, sales, manufacturing, IT, market research, personnel and company law. They also develop their teamwork, presentation, organisation, communication and interpersonal skills.