Tip 1: GET THE RIGHT PRODUCT – you must carry out market research to see if there is a need for your product and if it would sell
Tip 2: EMBRACE CHANGE – it may provide a market opportunity (e.g credit crunch, rising oil prices, internet shopping)
Tip 3: TEST THE PRODUCT – to guarantee it does what you say it does
Tip 4: TEST THE MARKET – to conclude if it would sell and at what price
Tip 5: AVOID FALSE ADVERTISING – this just upsets customers, earns you a bad reputation and causes poor sales
Tip 6: GET YOUR TEAM ON BOARD – the whole team needs to co-operate and be fully behind the product in order for your company to be successful
Tip 7: DON’T FOOL YOURSELF – You have to be honest with yourself about what you are doing. You may think your idea is the best thing since sliced bread but seeking another opinion may prove this wrong
Tip 8: MAKE DECISIONS – that are beneficial to the company, don’t waste time – it’s money, vote for suitable candidates for each role and respect their authority
Tip 9: COMMON SENSE – it goes a long way!
Tip 10: HAVE FUN! – it’s a great learning experience

Young people regularly hear about the European Union and its projects.
In reality however, the EU seems remote from their day-to-day lives…

Today, the European Commission is giving them an opportunity to
examine the issues and have a say, in sum get involved through a photo
competition.

So what’s it about?

It’s a photo competition for 14 to 18 year olds from the 27 Member
States, under the theme “The euro: what does it mean for us?”.
Apart from the prizes awarded to winners, it’s also a chance for them
to take an interest in European integration, gain a better
understanding of it, and have a say on the matter, even if your
country doesn’t use this currency.

Each team is made up of 2 to 3 young people and 1 adult. The team will
send its photo to a European jury which will select 27 finalist teams,
one from each Member State. The winning team will be announced during
a prize-giving ceremony in Brussels in May 2010, attended by the 7
highest scoring teams from across Europe.

What are the prizes?

*       The members of the 27 finalist teams will receive a professional
graphics pad (used for illustrations, sketches, digital photo
enhancements and webpage designs).

*       The 7 teams with the best scores from across Europe will be invited
to Brussels in May 2010 to explore the city and European institutions
and attend a prize-giving ceremony.
The photos of the 7 winning teams will be published on the website of
the European Commission Representation of their country and the
website of the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs.

*       The members of the team with the best score from among the 7
finalists will receive a Nikon D3000 Digital SLR Camera and
accessories (zoom lens, memory card and carry bag).

More info?

Visit the photo competition website: www.euroinphoto.eu

With advice from local business volunteers, the pupils set up and run a business to manufacture and sell products to learn about running a business first-hand.  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 liquidate the company and present a report and accounts.

A wide range of products were on sale, including Valentine’s day cards and gifts. 

The trade fair is the next step in the Company of the Year Competition.  Judges from the local business community were on hand to evaluate each company, and this evaluation, along with the interviews the students will undergo to pitch their company, will help determine regional winners in 2010.

 “Young Enterprise plants the seed for future enterprise, leading to job creation and sustainable business,” noted Carol Fitzsimons, Chief Executive Officer at Young Enterprise Northern Ireland.  “We’re delighted so many schools have participated in this event.  It gives them the opportunity to experience the world of business first-hand, and we hope that it will ignite the entrepreneurial spark in many local students.”

Barbara Roulston, Head of External Relations for Royal Mail commented, “Helping people connect is at the heart of what Royal Mail does.  Connections are vital to any young entrepreneur, so we are delighted to be supporting Young Enterprise because it enables young people to develop a wide range of business skills and create better prospects for their future careers.”

John May, the newly-appointed Chief Executive of Young Enterprise UK, recently visited the organisation’s Northern Ireland operation to celebrate its success of almost 100,000 achievers in that academic year, making it the top-performing region in the UK.   

His trip to Northern Ireland included a visit to Belfast Model School for Girls, who boast five student enterprises in Young Enterprise’s flagship programme, ‘Company’.  This programme enables young people to set up and run their own enterprise over the course of one academic year, with the support of a volunteer from the local business community. 

John commented: ‘I am delighted to have the opportunity to see first-hand the work of Young Enterprise Northern Ireland.  These young achievers have an infectious passion for business and enterprise that will give them a head-start in their careers and set them apart from their peers in an increasingly-competitive job market. 

‘Last year in the UK 35,000 students from approximately 3,000 schools participating in these business start-ups achieved an estimated £2 million turnover to date, which is especially impressive against the backdrop of the current economic climate.  It is inspiring that these dynamic young people are choosing to proactively seek out opportunities and take ownership of their futures.’

Accompanying John May on his visit to the school was Carol Fitzsimons, Chief Executive Officer of Young Enterprise Northern Ireland, who commented: ‘All at Young Enterprise Northern Ireland are thrilled to learn that our region achieved the highest levels of student engagement in the UK in the last academic year.  Traditionally, Northern Ireland has one of the lowest levels of business start-up in the UK, and we are confident that our work will help to reverse that trend by promoting entrepreneurial attitudes in our young people and igniting their passion for business.’

The students sold products they had developed themselves in the Young Enterprise Northern Ireland Company and Team Programmes, funded by the Department of Education and supported by Royal Mail. 

The goods and services on sale included Christmas crafts, cards and hand-made products.  The students demonstrated a range of innovative product ideas, including bee houses, firelighters made from recycled materials and educational workshops for primary school children, in addition to seasonal fayre.

The trade fair is the next step in the Company of the Year Competition where the best company will represent Northern Ireland in the Young Enterprise UK finals in London in July, 2010.

Barbara Roulston, Head of External Relations for Royal Mail, who support the Team Programme, commented, “Helping people connect is at the heart of what Royal Mail does.  Connections are vital to any young entrepreneur, so we are delighted to be supporting Young Enterprise because it enables young people to develop a wide range of business skills and create better prospects for their future careers.”

An important part of the programme includes workplace visits, to give students the opportunity to put their new skills into action and to experience the world of work first-hand.  Royal Mail was amongst the local employers who offered the students the opportunity to come into their premises to discuss career prospects and give them an insight into their busy sorting office at Mallusk, Newtownabbey.

Barbara Roulston, Head of External Relations for Northern Ireland, commented:
‘We’ve been supporting the work of Young Enterprise for a number of years and are really keen to help young people develop essential skills for the workplace and make career choices that are right for them. One of the best ways to do that is through work experience so we were delighted to show this group of young people what goes on at Royal Mail and give them a flavour of the job opportunities we offer.’

Funded through the European Social Fund (administered by the Department of Employment and Learning), International Fund for Ireland and the South Eastern Health and Social Services Trust, Key Start will offer places to almost 300 students aged 14-16 at over the three-year programme.  The six participating centres are the Loughshore Education Resource Centre, the Link Centre, Conway Education Centre, Pathways Project, New Start Education Centre and Education By Choice – all specialising in the provision of education for marginalised young people.

Activities will take place at the Northern Ireland Scout Centre in Crawfordsburn Country Park and run over 10 weeks.  The 300 young people will receive training in business and enterprise, personal development and employability, and get the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities, such as canoeing, caving, abseiling and archery. 

Ronan Quinn, Project Officer with the Young Enterprise Key Start Programme, commented: “Our unique Key Start Programme provides a fantastic opportunity for the young people to learn about enterprise, while developing their skills in a fun and interactive environment.  We are delighted that so many local businesses are prepared to support this initiative by opening their doors to these young people to inspire them to take control of their future careers.”

 Ceri O’Reilly, Manager of the Pathways Project praised the Programme: ‘The Key Start Programme has been very effective in allowing our students the opportunity to see in practical terms how business works. The programme has helped participants to consolidate existing skills and learn new ones which can be applied to the workplace. Pathways are very happy with the way in which the Key Start programme assists the young people in their preparation for the world of work.’

My Story is about finding remarkable true stories of ordinary people that could be turned into best selling books.  They are looking for extra-ordinary true life stories from all over Britain. They might be dramatic, heartwarming, funny or sad – as long as they’re true, they want to read them.

Fifteen people’s stories will be told in a major new five part series to go out next year on BBC1.  Five of these people will win book deals plus a cash advance of £20,000.

My Story is not a writing competition as the winning stories will be ghostwritten by the publisher Harper Collins. But if your story is chosen, your name would appear on the cover of your own book.

Applications should be made via the website:
www.bbc.co.uk/mystory 
and add a summary of your story in no more than 1500 words.  All applications should be written in English or Welsh.

If applicants don’t have access to the internet, please apply via post to My Story, PO Box 65655 London W12 2BG.

The closing dates for entries is 16th December 2009.

Oscar Wooley of Suki Tea and Vanessa Postle, Community Affairs Adviser, Northern Bank, with pupils from BRA at the masterclass

Students from all over Northern Ireland are to learn the secrets to creating a positive employment future for themselves during the year thanks to the Northern Bank Young Enterprise Entrepreneurship Masterclass.

The workshops, organised by Young Enterprise Northern Ireland, are aimed at 14-18 year olds and designed to help students to think about opening their own business as a career option.Staff from the Northern Bank will also be on hand to provide students with advice on avoiding the financial pitfalls of starting a business.

During the Masterclass, students will learn how to develop the key entrepreneurial skills required to start their own company, including communication, team work, marketing and developing a unique business proposition.

Successful local entrepreneurs will also pass on some of their entrepreneurial wisdom to students, who will then get the opportunity to hone their new skills by taking part in interactive business activities, including the production of a business plan.

Judith Hodgen from Northern Bank with students at the North West Regional Masterclass

Northern Bank has been a long term supporter of Young Enterprise as part of its award winning Community Investment programme.

Gilford’s Lynda McKinley, of Mencap Employment Services, received her award from Olivia and Connor from Rathore School’s post-16 department, and Joanne Hughes, Development Manager for the Southern Region of Young Enterprise Northern Ireland.

For over ten years, Lynda has volunteered as a judge on the Royal Mail Team Programme, which aims to foster business skills in young people, who experience difficulties with their learning, by helping them set up their own company.

Lynda commented: ‘I am delighted to receive this award.  It’s a pleasure to be involved in the Team Programme.  At Mencap Employment Services, we can see the difference that programmes like these make to young people with learning difficulties, by preparing them for the world of work and encouraging enterprise.  I look forward to continuing my involvement with Young Enterprise in the next academic year.’

Joanne Hughes, Development Manager with Young Enterprise, commented: ‘The Team Programme could not operate without volunteers like Lynda.  She is a terrific advocate of the Programme, and all at Young Enterprise are delighted to present her with this award.  Lynda is very deserving of this accolade.  It is a fitting tribute to the hard work and dedication she has invested in the Team Programme over the years.  We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mencap for supporting the Programme and encouraging Lynda’s participation.’

Speaking at the launch of the new initiative, which took place at the Oh Yeah! Centre, Belfast, was Orla Havlin-Lauder, Development Manager with Young Enterprise Northern Ireland, who explained: ‘Social Enterprises, or Community Interest Companies, are defined as businesses with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners  This new model is an exciting development for the Company Programme, which reflects current business trends in Northern Ireland.
 
‘It is fitting, then, that The Co-operative, one of the UK’s most high-profile and successful social enterprises, is choosing to support Hunterhouse in their new endeavour, delivering art and drama workshops for primary school children.’ added Orla.
 
Also present at the launch was Chris Boyd, Co-operative Affairs Democratic Services Manager, who commented: ‘The Co-operative’s business objectives are concerned with much more than simply making a profit.  We encourage new ideas to tackle issues that are important to our members, from helping the community to changing the world, so we are delighted to support Young Enterprise’s new social enterprise initiative. 
 
‘It is important that young people understand the wide range of benefits that business can bring to their local community, in addition to prosperity and employment.  All at The Co-operative wish Hunterhouse College every success with their new venture, and look forward to hearing about their progress.’
 
Andrew Gibson, Principal of Hunterhouse College praised the benefits of the Company Programme, and the new model: ‘At Hunterhouse we recognise that the world in which our pupils will live and work is ever-changing, and we are continually developing both our curricular and extra-curricular provision to ensure that all our pupils acquire the skills and qualities they will need in the world of business.  Hunterhouse College has long been associated with the Company Programme.  Our teaching staff recognise the value it lends to our offering, as it compliments the revised curriculum, enabling students to understand the dynamic internal and external influences on contemporary business organisations, such as the importance of corporate social responsibility in addition to a healthy balance sheet.’