RE: Sponsorship of YAA Business Skills Program 2009
Young Achievement Australia would be very grateful if the Kempsey Chamber of Commerce or individual members would give consideration to assisting with sponsorship of this year’s program. I am required to find $5,500 in sponsorship to fund each program and would be grateful of any support thatcan be given. To date I have zero dollars committed for 2009.
Last week I spent a day in Kempsey visiting the secondary schools recruiting students and at this point we have 11 students interested in participating. I hope that this number will increase in the next one to two weeks before we commence the program. This year we have recruited from year 10 as well as year 11’s. So far we have registrations from Melville, Kempsey High, St. Pauls and one student from the Macleay Vocational College. I have also had a very positive discussion with staff at the Seventh Day Adventist College who are considering adopting the program to be run in-school. This ultimately could mean two programs for Kempsey!!
A fundamental change to this years’ schedule is that I’ll be holding our Management Skills Workshop much earlier, at the end of May. This is traditionally a time when we see some attrition of student numbers. The intent here is to provide motivation and lift enthusiasm levels to ensure more students complete the program. I’ve also pushed the Trade Expo held in Coffs out to the end of August giving businesses a little more preparation time beforehand.
With these changes I would expect that we will hold a near capacity group for the duration of the program providing a much greater outcome for the Kempsey community at large.
I was delighted to see that last years’ YAA business MD James Burnett became a YAA State Finalist Business Person of the Year which is a credit to his resolve and general business abilities. When talking with him at the awards event in Sydney he indicated his interest in becoming a YAA mentor this year which I think is an excellent idea. I foster this and have generally found involvement from previous years students adds immeasurably to the learning
process of the incumbent group.
The following gives some information on the program and also outlines some of the benefits that I feel are relevant to the Kempsey community.
Background
Young Achievement Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that runs and facilitates Business Skills Programs for senior secondary and tertiary students across Australia. A program involves 15-25 students from local schools getting together with mentors from the areas business community and developing and running a small business.
Together, the students and mentors select and register a business name, research and develop a product. The students take on positions within the company -such as Managing Director, Finance Director, Marketing Director etc, they sell shares to raise capital and develop business plans. They are required to keep accurate financial records, and the overall aim is to make a profit for their shareholders. The company is liquidated after the completion of the 24-week program.
The program is designed to be as realistic as possible. The students pay taxes, they pay rent, open a bank account and negotiate their lease and access to facilities with their
mentors.
YAA is a once in a lifetime opportunity for young people to get hands on business management experience. This helps students to improve their business and interpersonal skills and it may also assist them make more informed career choices. Participating in a program has been proven to give them extra appeal to prospective employers.
In addition to running the business, producing a product and returning a profit to their shareholders, the company members take part in business skills workshops and trade fairs. YAA companies and individual members are also eligible for state and national awards in recognition of the calibre of work undertaken during the 24-week period.
YAA is a fantastic experience. It has been running since 1977 and to date has included around 200,000 students in programs across Australia.
The program is free of charge for students -YAA relies solely on the goodwill of the Government and business communities in the form of sponsorship.
Key Benefits
• The program has the effect of bringing business and young adults together for the good of their future employability. Links made may lead to local employment ahead of these young adults departing Kempsey seeking opportunity elsewhere.
• The program equips these young adults with a host of business experiences not to mention a renewed confidence in their own abilities to achieve.
• The greater community through media coverage and particularly parents, teachers, and sponsors get to experience the process, thus adding to overall community
involvement.
• Mentors find the process a very rewarding one, often stating they enjoy contributing to the development of emerging adults.
• Employers of mentors also often use the program as a training ground for up and coming managers to develop leadership skills.
• Sponsors are recognised at every opportunity by the student business, at the Regional Trade Expo held in Coffs Harbour and at state and national level via the Awards
Events , YAA website and the annual publication “YAA Year in Review”
I am looking forward to seeing this years’ group grow through the experience and hope that the Chamber and its membership may be able to contribute to this.
Kind Regards
Steve Young
Calling for Mentors
Young Achievement Australia is currently looking for three to four mentors to add to its ranks in the Kempsey
area.
Over the next month ‘YAA’ will be recruiting students from years 10 and 11 for its Business Skills program. The
aim of the program is to give young people a real-life insight into running their own business over a 24-week
period. YAA will offer up to 25 students the chance to participate. Students will voluntarily register to be part of
the program and will meet weekly for 2 hours over a 24-week period.
During the program students register a company name, sell shares to raise capital, conduct market research,
manufacture and sell a product and will liquidate their company in mid October. The student company will write
a business plan, produce an annual report and have a chance to participate in State and National Awards.
The success of a group each year is partially due to the assistance given by a small group of volunteer mentors.
Mentors help guide the students through YAA’s step-by-step guidelines by drawing on their own business and
life experiences. The team of mentors around Australia find the experience enjoyable and enriching in the
knowledge that they are contributing to the calibre of young Australians and also delight from time to time in
bragging about the successes of their business group each year
The primary requirement for being a successful mentor is having enthusiasm and commitment. Unfortunately
YAA has a shortage of available mentors this year and unless they can find assistance will have to consider
postponing the program for 2009. In this event 2009 year 11 students will not be given the chance to participate
in this once in a lifetime opportunity.
YAA provides mentor training prior to the program’s start, along with the YAA Business Skills Program Manual
and Mentor’s Guide. They will also visit the team and be in constant contact as the program progresses.
A mentor’s time commitment averages about 3 hours per week, in those weeks they attend. The program starts
in late March and culminates in mid October. They will need to attend each meeting in the first seven weeks
and once the students are up and running the mentors can rotate their weekly commitment. Anyone who is
interested should contact Steve Young – Northern NSW Coordinator on 6656 1922 or 0412 325 267 or email
steve.young@yaa.org.au Also check out www.yaa.org.au for more detail.