Who in Northern Ireland can participate in Young Enterprise Northern Ireland Programmes?

Any school in Northern Ireland can participate in Young Enterprise Programmes.

How can I get a YENI programme in my school?

Contact someone at either your regional office or the Belfast office. They will be able to talk to you about the various programmes available, and help you to select ones that will best suit your students’ age group and your classroom needs. [link to contacts page]

Go to: General Information; Programmes; Costs; Volunteering; Becoming a Supporter; Administrative Questions;

How many programmes does YENI offer?

YENI currently offers schools 14 different programmes. We are also piloting [which programme]

To learn more about the different programmes [click here – link to programmes page]

How do I choose which programme would be best for my students?

YENI staff can help you choose the appropriate programme depending on the age of the students and the time available for the programme. Our programmes are designed for different age groups – beginning at the primary level and continuing to graduate level. Programmes are available that span the school year – or take a day.

To allow the maximum number of schools to participate in the longer programmes, YENI offers flexible time arrangements to suit both schools’ and the students’ schedules.

Our school hasn’t been involved in YENI before. How do we join?

Contact us and we will put you in touch with your area office. They’ll give you all of the information you need. [direct link to contact page]

Go to: General Information; Programmes; Costs; Volunteering; Becoming a Supporter; Administrative Questions;

How much does this cost the school?

Nothing.

Young Enterprise is funded by business and the public sector in order to develop and encourage enterprise and entrepreneurial skills in students. We provide all of the necessary materials and the volunteers deliver the programme. The only commitment the school must make is the time to deliver the programmes in the classroom.

Who provides the materials?

YENI provides all materials necessary to deliver its programmes.

Go to: General Information; Programmes; Costs; Volunteering; Becoming a Supporter; Administrative Questions;

What, exactly, do business volunteers do?

Business volunteers deliver Young Enterprise Northern Ireland programmes in the classroom. They are provided with training by YENI, and are given a full complement of resources as well as the ongoing support of YENI staff.

Can I choose the school I wish to volunteer at?

Many of our volunteers like to work in schools outside of their own district. It gives them the chance to meet new people and learn about another community. However, we always try to fit our volunteers into schools that best fit their own talents and needs.

Is there a big time commitment?

There is a YENI programme for every level of time commitment. If you have only one hour a year to spend, you can help deliver a seminar. If you’ve got an hour a week, then you might consider volunteering for the Company Programme. No matter how small your available time, we can always place you in a spot where you can share your experience with young people.

Do I have to have teaching experience?

No. The experience we value in our volunteers is their business and life experience. YENI provides all its volunteers with the training and materials they need to deliver the programme effectively.

How long does training take?

Training takes as little as an hour.

What if I’m having problems?

Young Enterprise staff are always available to assist you with any questions or concerns you might have, and to give you guidance when it’s needed. We also hold networking sessions for advisers so they can talk to each other, share information and learn from each others’ experiences.

Go to: General Information; Programmes; Costs; Volunteering; Becoming a Supporter; Administrative Questions;

Where do we get the funds to start up a Company Programme business?

There are a number of ways of raising start-up funding. For example, YENI has an arrangement with certain of the major banks to provide start-up funding to YENI businesses. Companies must also issue shares. Full details are provided when you register.

We’ve lost our Certificate of Incorporation and we are meeting the bank tomorrow. What do we do?

Contact us and we can send you another one by fax.

Our local bank won’t give us a grant. Can you help?

If you provide details of your meetings with the bank, we will contact the bank and help you find a resolution.

We’ve changed our company name. Who do we tell?

Let your regional or area office know.

Can we buy and then re-sell goods?

Yes you can, although it would not provide the experience other Achievers get who look for a market niche and design and produce a product to fill it.

What do we do if our adviser doesn’t show up?

Our advisers are very reliable people. However, in the unlikely event it does happen, give your local area manager a call immediately. They’ll either provide an emergency replacement adviser or help reschedule your session.