Young Enterprise, the UK’s leading business and enterprise education charity, recently announced record figures for achiever levels, having delivered its business programmes to 315,000 pupils in the academic year, 2008-9.

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.’