ENTERPRISING SUNDERLAND STUDENTS BUILD BRIDGES WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES

Photo caption: Students from Sunderland college: Ross Sherriff, David Worthington, Rhys Watkins, Andrew Harvey, Nathan Ainsley and Adam Thompson won the award for the Best Financially Managed Bridge.

YOUNG Enterprise North East (YENE) is breaking ground with the introduction of a new industry specific master class to its range of enterprise education programmes to ensure students are ‘work ready’ when leaving education.

Students aged 16 and 17 from Sunderland College were amongst the first to take part in the first YENE engineering master class that is being run in conjunction with Newcastle-based oil and gas pipeline firm Wellstream and engineering giant British Engines.

The one day engineering master class, which is delivered by engineers, is designed to give students a greater understanding of the world of engineering before they enter the real working environment.

Through a series of activities the students designed, cost and built a bridge. Working in groups they each designed a section of bridge using CAD drawings for specific measurements. They then came together and assembled the whole bridge, which was judged by project engineers from Wellstream.

Wellstream project engineer Chris Gorton said: “The skills that the students develop are teambuilding, problem solving, communication skills. They also gain an understanding of job roles within the engineering industry, to fully equip them for the real world.”

Young Enterprise North East chief executive Catherine Marchant said: “The engineering master class is the first in our range of sector specific master classes that we hope to launch throughout the next academic year.

“We have worked together with North East employers and have launched this programme due to the demand for employers wanting to recruit people who not only have academic qualifications but also have life skills and relevant experience. This therefore is step slightly removed from our traditional entrepreneurial activity.

“There has never been a more pressing time for students to gain real work experience to help them get on the career ladder. It’s sink or swim for thousands and the new Young Enterprise engineering master class means graduates will be more equipped to enter the real world.

“Unfortunately academic qualifications on their own no longer provide a passport to a great career, these days you need more than that and participating in the entrepreneurial sector specific master classes is one piece of advice I would give to youngsters hungry for a successful future.”

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS GAIN COMPETITIVE EDGE IN BATTLE FOR UNIVERSITY PLACES

YOUNG Enterprise North East, the region’s leading enterprise education charity, is working with UK examining body OCR to give young people the opportunity to gain up to 40 extra UCAS points through an extra-curricular entrepreneurship programme.

For the first time this year, 15-19 year-olds taking part in the YENE Company Programme will have the option to take one unit that could be worth up to 40 UCAS points, in a brand new Level 3 qualification from OCR.

The Company Programme allows students to set up and run their own real company with the support and guidance of a business mentor.

Points come into effect for entry to higher education from 2011 onwards.

The qualification will be assessed by a single examined unit taken in May each year, designed to fit conveniently around the rest of their activities. The assessment will be based mainly on a case study but will draw upon the experience each candidate has had in the running of their company.

The OCR Young Enterprise Level 3 Certificate can be taken by last year’s Company Programme students as well as this year’s.

The points are relevant for entry into Higher Education for 2011, which means that they are relevant for this year's applications.

The qualification has been awarded the following UCAS points:

Level 3 - UCAS Tariff Points
• Distinction 40 points
• Merit 30 points
• Pass 20 points

Young Enterprise North East chief executive Catherine Marchant said: “We are delighted to offer young people the chance to set up and run their own real company whilst also enabling them to gain extra UCAS points. We want to give young people every opportunity to succeed in this challenging scramble for university places.”

Clare Shuttlewood, OCR’s Head of Business Development, said: “The allocation of UCAS points to this new OCR qualification recognises the quality of what is achieved on the Programme. In this time of competitive HE admissions, OCR is pleased to have worked in partnership with Young Enterprise so that young people can now gain extra credit for their efforts. “

View from a business volunteer...

Two of the region’s fund managers are investing their time in the future of young people by volunteering to run Young Enterprise North East’s (YENE) enterprise education programmes in schools across the region.

Nick Edgar of IP Group plc and Simon Johnson of NEL Fund Managers have worked with YENE for a number of years and are currently involved in the Company Programme working with students aged 15 to 19 from Church High School in Newcastle.

Nick is also a member of YENE’s Volunteer Committee, which is responsible for the strategic involvement of all business volunteers and aims to encourage even more businesses to get involved with enterprise.

IP Group and NEL are both venture capital companies that are managing two of the region’s Finance for Business North East Funds. IP Group manages the Finance for Business North East Technology Fund and is looking to fund and support 60 high growth SMEs in the region over the coming years. NEL is focussed on funding and backing well-established companies from all sectors in the region and has twenty years’ experience in supporting North East businesses.

Nick was first introduced to YENE when he worked with the charity as part of a graduate placement and has remained a strong believer in what Young Enterprise aims to achieve ever since. He said: “My first experience in the classroom was really good; I had a very supportive link teacher and great support from the Young Enterprise team.

“For anyone in business that has the chance to work with young people I’d say grab it with both hands; it is such a good experience, as young people teach you as much as you could ever hope to teach them, not least in terms of their enthusiasm and generation of creative ideas.”

Nick believes that only by business people going into schools and having direct contact with these young people that we as a region will produce an enthusiastic and entrepreneurial workforce of tomorrow.

Simon added: “As the recent Young Enterprise alumni report highlights; YE students are twice as likely to run their own business in the future, and alumni feel that Young Enterprise contributed more than anything else to their development of transferable skills, such as teamwork, decision-making, and self-motivation.

“Both our day jobs see us work with lots of entrepreneurs and I think it is definitely something that should be encouraged from as early an age as possible. Enterprise education taught by no other than real people in the business world gives young people a good, all-round sense of business acumen. I would encourage anyone in the business community to see how they could get involved.”

They have also had a lot of fun along the way Nick adds: “Hurdles that I have had to overcome include battling with broken staple guns as well as cutting wood and painting – a massive achievement for someone who certainly isn’t Mr DIY!”

www.ipgroupplc.com regional website: www.thenortheasttechnologyfund.com
www.nel.co.uk

Young Enterprise North East chief executive Catherine Marchant responds to the appointment of Lord Young as Enterprise Tsar.

Young Enterprise North East chief executive Catherine Marchant says: “Young Enterprise North East welcomes the appointment of Lord Young as the new Enterprise Tsar. He has shown strong commitment to enterprise education during his career and clearly recognises the importance of educating young people about business and enterprise from an early age.

“We look forward to working with him to inspire a strong sense of enterprise among all young people in the region and to create a clear road for young entrepreneurs to set up their own businesses unhampered by unnecessary red tape.


“Anything that lessens the burden on small North East businesses can only be positive for the region.”

CHARITY URGES BUSINESSES NOT TO FOLLOW IN QUEEN’S FOOTSTEPS

UNLIKE the Queen businesses in the region are being encouraged not to ditch their staff Christmas party this year and instead still celebrate whilst giving something back to the economy.
The Queen has cancelled this year's Christmas party for her staff because of the "difficult financial circumstances" facing the country it was announced last week (14 October).
In response to this North East-based enterprise education charity Young Enterprise North East is inviting local employers to think twice about cancelling staff parties and attend its fundraising Christmas bash instead.
Young Enterprise North East volunteer committee chair David Wilson said: “Of course businesses are feeling the pinch now more than ever. However, instead of businesses ditching their expensive annual Christmas celebrations altogether, going along to the Young Enterprise North East Ball allows them to thank staff for their hard work, boost morale and network with other business in the region, whilst also giving something back to the local economy. All money raised on the night will go directly back to the region’s young people by providing them with enterprise lessons and inspirational role models.
“Unlike the Queen you don’t have to cancel Christmas for your staff; you can still have a great night whilst contributing to the economic wellbeing of your region through its young people.
“And with David Cameron pushing his Big Society vision to businesses where he is calling on firms to increase their corporate and social responsibility budgets, our fundraising Christmas party ticks all the right boxes.”
The Young Enterprise North East Christmas Charity event will be held at the Gosforth Marriott Hotel on Saturday 11 December. As well as a disco and 3-course meal, highlights of the evening include Christmas Carol singers provided by YENE students and a special visit from Father Christmas.
Business in the region already attending the ball include, the BIC and BlueSky Chartered Accountants.
£600 for a table of 10. To book a table please contact YENE on 0191 495 9500.

NEWCASTLE STUDENTS DESIGN OWN FUTURE

STUDENTS from Newcastle and Northumbria Universities have helped shape how enterprise education will be delivered nationally in a new programme to help bridge the ever widening gap between university and a crucial first job.

As part of a national review of its programmes the Young Enterprise ‘Start-up’ Programme has launched this month after students, their business mentors and lecturers from local universities were chosen to help make the former Graduate Programme fit more closely with the reality of starting a business.

The students have been chosen to pilot the new programme, which is supported by global bank Santander, and will see them working more closely with business owners in the region.

Through working together to set up and run their own companies and with mentoring from Young Enterprise North East business volunteers, students taking part in the programme will gain vital first-hand experience of business.

Young Enterprise North East chief executive Catherine Marchant said: “With the job market remaining an increasingly competitive place for graduates, Young Enterprise has launched the Start-up Programme to universities in the North East this month.

“Research shows that nearly two-thirds of UK businesses have found employees joining from University are lacking in business acumen and commercial awareness.

“As the coalition Government beds down and economic uncertainty continues, it is essential we ensure our future workforce is prepared to help the North East compete globally.

“We are in danger of failing our young people by not providing them with the necessary business skills and experience they need to succeed. A workforce lacking in business acumen simply cannot drive an economic recovery.

“But it seems the recession has spawned a new entrepreneurial spirit. These young people aren’t waiting for a job to land in their lap but creating their own opportunities. Recessions, as many top business people will know, can lead to people exploiting niches, creating new business models or going it alone- and this is what the new Start-up Programme aims to inspire graduates to do.”

Newcastle University lecturer Katie Wray, who was involved in consultation process of the new Start-up programme said: “At university, students are used to living on very little, so it’s not much of a sacrifice for them to go on doing that while they build up their own company. It’s sink or swim for thousands of gradates, the new Young Enterprise Start-up programme means it’s graduates will be more equipped to enter the real world and see the recession as an opportunity.

“Students and graduates should seek support, have a go at starting their own business or learn to be more entrepreneurial within one.

“Unfortunately a university degree in itself is no longer a passport to a great career, these days you need more than that and participating in the entrepreneurial activities whilst at university is one piece of advice I would give to people going to university this year.

“There has never been a better time to think imaginatively and create your own future."

The survey, carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, found that employers would like to see their employees more equipped with leadership skills, customer services skills, communication and interpersonal skills and work ethic.

With graduates fearing more than ever that they won’t be able to bag the job they want, Young Enterprise North East is calling on universities and businesses across the region to work together and ensure that graduates are equipped with the confidence, ability and ambition to be the driving force behind the North East’s economic recovery.

For more information about how universities can get involved with Start-up Programme visit www.young-enterprise.org.uk.

One person who has gone through the Start up programme and has set up their own business as a result is Pip Lawrence: Case Study Below:

CASE STUDY

Part of the Northumbria University student team that set up vintage clothing company Mango Moon, young entrepreneur Phillip Lawrence has used the experience he gained to go on to set up the successful Naughty Knitwear Company.

As part of the Young Enterprise North East Start Up programme (formerly known as Graduate Programme), Phillip worked alongside his third year team mates to get to grips with business planning, raising finance, marketing and a range of other issues involved in running a business.

The Mango Moon team was supported by business mentor Sheila Walker, who owns Gosforth-based vintage clothing agency the Dressing Room, and whose years of experience in the fast-moving clothing sector made her input invaluable.

By the end of the year-long project Mango Moon was firmly established as a thriving name in the North East vintage and retro clothing market, with a band of devoted clients.

Graduating in summer 2010 with a 2:1 in Business Management, Phillip said: “I learnt such a lot by setting up Mango Moon. Not just in terms of how to go about raising finance for example, but also about assessing what I wanted to do, and about taking calculated risks to get there.

“I’d always wanted to be my own boss, but before the YENE programme I had no real idea how to go about it. Setting up a business is portrayed as scary, mainly because it’s an unknown quantity. But the biggest thing I learnt was that it’s all do-able, if you have the right advice and support.

“YENE gave me the toolkit – and the confidence - to go ahead and set up a business on my own, which I couldn’t have done before. I was busy setting up the Naughty Knitwear Company before I graduated, and six months down the line I’m busy selling at vintage and craft markets around the region, as well as building up an online presence through Facebook and Twitter.

“Now that the business is taking off I’ve also got plans to launch another idea, which is something I could never have seen myself doing if I hadn’t been part of the Start Up programme.”
http://naughtyknitwearcompany.blogspot.com

YOUNG ENTERPRISE GIVES EMILY THE GREEN LIGHT FOR BUSINESS IDEA

A FORMER secretary has left behind her desk job in favour of her own coaching business after her enterprise spark was lit by enterprise education provider Young Enterprise North East (YENE).

Twenty-three-year-old Emily Keep from Jesmond, Newcastle quit her job as a senior secretary nine weeks ago and has seen her new business coaching company – Green Stag Solutions –go from concept to launch in just six weeks.

Emily, who completed the YENE Company Programme – where pupils set up and run their own trading business in an academic year - whilst at school five years ago, says she wouldn’t have had the confidence to set up the business without the enterprise course.

Green Stag Solutions director Emily Keep said: “I left education and tried to work in the corporate world but it just wasn’t for me. Enterprise and the urge to want to set up my own business got the better of me and so I left my full time job to concentrate on setting up Green Stag Solutions and working for myself.

“Young Enterprise North East certainly lit that enterprise spark for me and I wouldn’t be where I am today without the encouragement and inspiration from the business volunteers.”

Green Stag Solutions is a personal and business coach and motivational speaking service which helps people overcome barriers and achieve goals. It also has an organisational arm, where Emily helps people de-clutter and reorganise their home after specific life events such as bereavement or children leaving home or people who just want to re-organise their wardrobes.

Emily has already built strong client relationships including business professionals and an international athlete. Emily says she wishes to expand her business by doing coaching sessions in schools and recruiting staff so she can outsource her services.
After graduating with a music degree and performing in some of the nation’s top venues, Emily set up the business understanding the pressure that comes from performing at high levels and maintaining a balanced life. Emily completed a life coaching course at Newcastle College and is now studying for her neuro linguistic programming certificate and a coaching and mentoring course from the Institute of Leadership and Management.
Emily said: “Young Enterprise North East opened my eyes to the highs and lows of running a small business as well as developing skills such as teamwork, creating brand identity and working with the public.
“The skills I learned during the Young Enterprise Programme were very influential in my decision to set up my business, hence the reason I now want to take my business coaching skills into schools to help young people succeed. It is crucial for students to interact with members of the business community to understand how the local economy is fuelled.”
Young Enterprise North East chief executive Catherine Marchant said: “With such a great success story, Emily is a role model and a positive result of Young Enterprise’s work throughout the region. Emily plans to give something back to Young Enterprise by promoting enterprise in the North East and delivering programmes within schools.”

The Young Enterprise North East Company Programme aims to teach and inspire young people to develop creative and successful business ideas. North East business people volunteer their time to mentor those participating. The programme creates an important link between young people and successful business leaders so that knowledge, skills and contacts can be passed on.

Emily is also an affiliate of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

JAMES TAKES HIS PRIZE FOR ENTERPRISE

A HARTLEPOOL teenager with severe learning difficulties has won an award for his outstanding contribution to enterprise.

James Dean, 17, who attends Catcote School Business and Enterprise College in Hartlepool, has won the Young Enterprise North East (YENE) Sir John Moores’ Special Achievement Award after overcoming physical and medical problems to become assistant managing director of his own company.

James has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative condition affecting one in 3,500 males, he uses an electronic wheelchair to move around school and has limited use of his hands, which makes it difficult for him to participate in writing and drawing activities.

However, since undertaking the YENE Team Programme and setting up Supercats, which designs and produces jigsaws and mouse mats, James’ teachers say they have seen a dramatic improvement in his academic abilities.

The YENE Team Programme inspires students aged between 15 and 19 years old with special educational and support needs to work together and set up and run their own real company, guided by a Young Enterprise business adviser.

Catcote School Business and Enterprise College director of specialism Alison Brown said: “Since undertaking the Young Enterprise North East Team Programme James has really developed his academic, social, and emotional well being.

“James finds academic work tiring and needs to be stimulated by activities that help him retain a positive outlook, which is exactly what the Young Enterprise programme allows him to do.

“James has learnt everything from how to set up a business, market research, establishing appropriate selling price to maximise profits, stock control and selling shares. He is very well respected by his peers and is an inspiration to others”.

James is the assistant managing director of Supercats, a business he set up in September 2009 with his fellow students and it is still going from strength to strength.

James has ambitious plans to capture an estimated one million customers by arranging to set up a stall at the Hartlepool stage of the Tall Ships event in August. This will involve working on the business in his own time during the summer holidays.

James designed the company logo, which is used in all literature and marketing materials.

The business showcased its wares at the Young Enterprise North East Trade Fair at Gateshead’s Metro Centre earlier this year, where James sold the company’s products to the public, which made a profit of £65.

James said: “I really enjoy the Young Enterprise programme as I am able to take ownership of something and have a lot of responsibility in the business. It has given me a real buzz for learning and the world of enterprise.”

James has worked with North Shields business owner David Bavaird of Scrap Tyre Exchange who has acted as his business adviser through the programme. He said: “I have been impressed by James’ contribution to the range of tasks and projects and he has demonstrated a sharp mind, problem solving skills and a willingness to learn. James is a credit not only to himself but to the day to day support and teaching he receives from the staff at Catcote School. I have enjoyed working with James and would encourage other businesses to get involved”.

Young Enterprise North East chief executive Catherine Marchant said: “The Sir John Moores’ Special Achievement Award 2010, sponsored by The Specials Laboratory has been awarded to James for demonstrating outstanding achievement and strength throughout the Team Programme. He is a team player and is a true inspiration to others.”

James is now working towards OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations) Young Enterprise Team Programme Entry three.

James received his award at the Young Enterprise North East Regional Final.

http://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/north_east/about_us

RONNIE THE RUNNER BEAN RUNS AWAY WITH TOP ENTERPRISE AWARD

RONNIE THE RUNNER BEAN RUNS AWAY WITH TOP ENTERPRISE AWARD

An evening that toasted the achievements of enterprising students, teachers and the regional business community, saw a team of youngsters from Newcastle Church High School recognised as the star performers.
BrightLife Books, a company set up by year 12 students from the city’s school, walked away with the Company of the Year title after producing two paperback books, 'Ronnie the Runner bean' and 'Sunny the Sunflower' with a global environment and healthy eating theme aimed at children aged three - 11.
‘Live the Rightlife, live the Brightlife, is the motto of this company. The students wrote and produced the books to help young people understand environment and healthy living issues. The books come with sunflower seeds so children can grow their own plants and a ‘Wheel of Good Health’ placemat to teach children about eating healthily.
BrightLife Books launched the product with a joint venture at Ouseburn-based Seven Stories book shop and has also delivered workshops to local school children.
The winners, revealed at an awards ceremony at the Gosforth Marriott Hotel last night, will go through to represent the region in the Young Enterprise National Final in London in July.
BrightLife Books managing director Francesca Thornton said: “Undergoing the Young Enterprise North East programme has been the most rewarding thing we’ve ever done. We have all learnt valuable enterprise lessons and knowing that we have produced something that other people find to be a good product is fantastic.
“We are unbelievably excited to have won the top award at the Regional Final and cannot wait to represent the region at the Grand Final in London. All the hard work has paid off.”
The winners of the Runner Up Company of the Year Award went to Cookii Doh – a company set up by a group of year 10 students from John Spence Community High School in North Shields, that produces high quality t-shirts and hoodies with unique designs for the teenage market.
Cookii Doh is already in talks with Cramlington-based men’s clothing company The Officers Club and is exploring possibilities with high street clothes retailer Next plc and play.com.
As well as representing the region at the National Final to be held in London this July, BrightLife Books will also receive a ‘five to keep your business alive’ business support package from five North East-based service providers.

The prize package includes free accountancy support from North Shields-based Blusky chartered accountants, green office supplies from Ethicalsuperstore.com in Gateshead, PR and marketing support from Newcastle’s award winning PR agency O Communications, an IT start-up package from Darlington-based Resilient Business Systems and a telecoms package free for a year from Eclipse Networks in Gateshead.

YENE chief executive Catherine Marchant said: “Every year I never fail to be amazed by the standard of business ideas from young people right here in this region.

“Their combined ideas highlight the vast amount of entrepreneurial talent that lies in this region – talent that surely must be nurtured and invested in, if we are to generate a lasting entrepreneurial culture in the region and show the rest of the UK that the North East really does mean business and compete on an international level with business across the world.

“The winners stood out as they put real thought into the nature of the product, their business and their market. It’s been a great competition.”
The other two finalist companies that were judged on the day include, Smarty Pants, a company set up by students from Teesside High School, that produces quality audio CD revision guides and online resources for the GCSE science market and Munchkins, launched by a group of year 12 business and textile students from The English Martyrs School & Sixth Form College in Hartlepool, that produces personalised aprons and recipe books for children.

JAILBREAK!

IN aid of Young Enterprise North East, Durham University students Andy Stephenson and Ali Hunsley faked an escape from Durham Prison on 7am on Thursday 10 June with the aim of travelling to New Zealand in just 36-hours with no money.

Dressed as Batman and Robin, the two best friends, took up the challenge in order to raise money for not-for-profit organisation YENE, which help delivers enterprise education lessons to schools and colleges throughout the region.

Andy undertook the challenge to inspire other young students and show them that ‘anything in life is possible’.

Read on to find out, just how far the duo got on their jail break mission…

“Starting off in Durham, we immediately headed to Newcastle Airport via two hitches with commuters in their cars and then took the Metro to the airport. At the airport we approached all of the flight desks but unfortunately didn't get anywhere, so we moved to plan B which was to hitch down to London, Heathrow.

“At Newcastle Central Station we established that trains were ruled out due to insurance reasons from the carrier, which essentially meant that our only way of transport was going to be by road.

“Heading out of the station we managed to hitch in a car with a great guy called Chris from Gateshead all the way down to Heathrow. With such a direct hitch, we made it to Heathrow in great time, arriving by 4pm.

“Our plan was to approach the flight desks and see if anyone could get us on a late flight. Unfortunately all the desks said no but were amused by our costumes and enthusiasm and pointed us towards BA at Terminal five, since one desk told us, 'if anyone can help you, BA can help you'.

“On arrival at Terminal five, we dropped our bags down in the middle of the terminal and took a minute or so to discuss our strategy when approaching the desks. During this time, we attracted a savvy photographer who came over for a bit of a chat. It transpired that he worked for The Times and told us to stay there for two minutes while he went to chat to someone.
As bemused as each other we stayed put and, as promised, the photographer returned a couple of minutes later with someone who introduced himself as David Sanderson, a reporter for The Times.

“After taking a few details about us and our cause, he instructed the photographer to get a couple of shots and then said that they were doing a story on people heading to the World Cup and his editor may be interested in publishing the photo since it was a quirky story.
Just as the journalist was finishing up, another journalist approached us and gave us a tip-off that Victoria Beckham was about to check in for her flight out to the World Cup at the other end of the terminal, and it might be interesting for us to head down there in our costumes and see if she could help us get on the same flight.

“Immediately our hearts were racing as we quickly headed down to the end of the terminal where a couple of journalists and photographers were trying to hide inconspicuously.
After about 10 minutes with Victoria’s arrival imminent, we'd attracted a small gathering of people interested in our costumes. Unfortunately, some of these people interested in us turned out to be security officers who came over and asked us to leave the terminal. So, not wanting to cause any trouble, we regrettably left and headed over to Terminal three instead, determined not to give up.

“In Terminal three, we decided that the best option would be to head for the south coast where we would have the chance of getting over to Europe by boat and then continuing our journey from there.
However, just as we were leaving the terminal, we got chatting to people from Thompson Sport Marketing who were checking people in for the South Africa flight that evening. After explaining our mission and woo-ed by the chance of being featured in The Times, we were pointed in the direction of the duty manager who sounded enthused at the idea of a large PR coup for Thompson in helping charity. She gave us her details and said to call if we made it into The Times on Friday and she would do all she could do to make things happen.

“Despite receiving such a great opportunity, we decided to hedge our bets and still head for the south coast just in case the photo didn't materialise the following morning. We went to Heathrow Coach Station where we were given a free ticket to London Victoria by the duty manager. We ideally wanted Portsmouth but he said if he was doing it for free, this was all he could manage. We took our ticket to London and showed it to the driver on the Portsmouth coach who we then persuaded to take us to Portsmouth anyway.

“After a long day, we decided to catch some sleep on the way to Portsmouth, arriving around midnight. We spotted a 24-hour casino, who we persuaded to let us camp out in overnight.

“Starting early the next morning, we quickly found a newspaper and discovered that unfortunately we hadn't made it into The Times, but instead of hanging our heads, we headed for the ferry port. The ferry companies were unwilling to budge and we couldn't find anyone to put up the ticket price for us, which was quite a low point.

“Picking ourselves up again was hard, but we managed it and we hitched all the way to Guildford and then onto Woking but unfortunately by this point, we were quite late in the day and after thousands of drivers rejecting us throughout the day we decided to call it a day and head back to the North East.

“Despite not getting as far as we originally hoped, we both learnt several valuable lessons that as entrepreneurs we know will help us with our own ventures in the future, these include:

“The power of the media and Twitter in raising the profiles of campaigns such as ours. Thanks to the media coverage we received, we generated a lot of people phoning us up and emailing us support. We genuinely felt motivated to keep going thanks to the levels of support we've received.

“We learnt that failure is nothing to be afraid of. After continuously being turned down or rejected by people we always bounced back and remained positive no matter what people said to us.

“Always have a backup plan! Effective risk management throughout our journey helped us to always be sure of our actions and made us more confident as we knew if we failed, we always had a contingency.

“Luck - you can't bank on it but you have to take full advantage of it when it's there.

“Finally and perhaps most pertinently, is remaining strong through the dark times and reaping the rewards during the high times. We were constantly being turned down by people, which had a huge impact on morale. What we did was always keep a smile on our faces, even when inside all we wanted to do was be at home again. In the end, we made it to Portsmouth in 18 hours without spending a single penny and that's quite an achievement; we'd have liked to get much further but with the current economic climate airlines and ferry companies were unable to help us out like they have done on previous JailBreak missions.”

Andy x

BATMAN AND ROBIN ESCAPE DURHAM PRISON FOR ENTERPRISE CHARITY

TWO Durham University students plan to escape from Durham Prison on a jailbreak-style mission to get to New Zealand in 36 hours with no money – in aid of Young Enterprise North East (YENE).

Andy Stephenson and Ali Hunsley will fake an escape from Durham Prison on 7am on Thursday 10 June with the aim of travelling to New Zealand in just a day-and-a-half with no cash for transport.

The two best friends, took up the challenge in order to raise money for not-for-profit organisation YENE, which help delivers enterprise education lessons to schools and colleges throughout the region.

Andy, who also runs his own business Raise a Tree - an online education game for children - hopes to be a future business mentor for YENE and said he is undertaking the challenge to inspire other young students.

He said: “The point is to show that ‘anything in life is possible’. If we complete the mission, it will give me incredible entrepreneurial and resource skills that I can take into the classroom and use to deliver inspiration to students.

“How far we actually get will depend on the support of the local media, any charitable donations and, of course, good old fashioned gift of the gab. We will utilise all sorts of transport including aeroplanes, cars, trains and taxis and will be collecting money for YENE on our way.

“Naturally we thought it best to undergo this challenge in fancy dress so if you see Batman and Robin on the morning of the June 10 please help them to get to New Zealand.”

Previous winners of Jailbreak have got as far as New York within 36 hours.

People can follow Andy and Ali’s journey via Twitter.com/NZjailbreak and sponsorship can be donated at http://www.justgiving.com/Andy-Stephenson1

OMG.... No not the Usher song, but Outstanding, Magnificent, Gob ‘smackingly’ great...
Hi my name is Uel J. Readioff from First Aid Today UK Ltd, I was asked to support a Young Enterprise North East event in a small way to help it run smoothly.
Outstanding, Magnificent, Gob ‘smackingly’ great...
That’s exactly what I saw at a Young Enterprise event last month; talent bubbling over, enthusiasm brimming and the biggest proudest grins in young adults I’ve seen in ages.
As an avid supporter of Young Enterprise, I have had 8 years experience working with young adults and this year they have blown me away with their vision, entrepreneurial skills, drive and ambition.
An apprenticeship might just be the answer to an employer’s prayers looking to grow their team.
Often overlooked for their lack of experience young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 are the secret to helping your business success, grow and expand.
Full of fresh ideas, fresh drive and ambition and a real tonic to any team in my eyes. Engaging just one apprentice in your business is enough to help raise staff confidences, morale, your business profile and show your peers you’re a forward thinking company. With young adults, we ourselves remember what it was like to be 16 again.
However, now apprenticeships are being delivered as training programmes that allow a young adult to gain real work experience, study for a qualification and get paid all at the same time.
An apprenticeship is a structured programme of training which gives young adults an opportunity to work for employers learning on the job, building up knowledge and transferable skills that will be needed throughout their working life.
For more information of how you can get involved as a volunteer working with young adults in enterprise contact: janet.woodhouse@yene.org.uk

SMART TEESSIDE STUDENTS WIN YOUNG ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE

ENTERPRISING Teesside students are in the running to be named Young Enterprise North East’s ‘Company of the Year’ after triumphing in the South Area Final this week.

Smarty Pants, a company set up by students from Teesside High School won the Best Overall Company award at the South Area Final where they pitched their business idea to a panel of judges.

The team will now go on to the Regional Final on 15 June with the chance to be named Company of the Year and represent the North East at the National Final held in London this July.

Smarty Pants produce quality audio CD revision guides and online resources for the GCSE science market. The company is currently seeking endorsement from the AQA examining board and it has already sold 200 copies to Darlington Building Society, who will distribute the product through its Young Savers scheme.

Smarty Pants joint managing director Rachel Goodier said: “We put so much work into our product, and trade stand so to win the Area Final was the icing on the cake. Thank you to Young Enterprise North East and our business advisers who helped us so much, we really appreciate it.”

Students from The English Martyrs School & Sixth Form College in Hartlepool also got through to the next round, with their business idea ‘Munchkins’.

Munchkins, launched by a group of year 12 business and textile students, produces personalised aprons and recipe books for children.

The students hope to target the product at parents to encourage them to cook with their children. They hope to promote in a similar way to Jamie Oliver's school dinners campaign to encourage children to learn how to cook for themselves and understand healthy options. They have already sold a number of the products in their own school and other local nurseries and primary schools.

Munchkins managing director Georgia Wilkinson said; “Setting up our own Young Enterprise company has been a brilliant experience. We have worked well as a team and all the hard work has now paid off by winning a place at the Regional Final. We are over the moon.”

Students from Stockton Sixth Form College were named as runners up and the Best Team Programme award went to students from Catcote Business and Enterprise School in Hartlepool.

The winning teams beat off stiff competition from the other student companies taking part including, ‘Boblania’ from Stockton Sixth Form College, ‘Elftopia’ from Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough, ‘Supercats’ and ‘Free Bikes for Africa’ from Catcote Business and Enterprise School in Hartlepool , ‘EDIT’ from The King’s Academy in Middlesbrough and ‘Green Machine’ from Darlington Education Village.

The schools are all taking part in YENE’s Company and Team (special needs) programmes, which sees students, establish a real company complete with products to sell, targets to reach, a board of directors and saleable shares.

At the Area Final, the students displayed their products and presented their business plans to the judging panel that included, ONE North East enterprise specialist adviser Angela Craggs, Business Link skills adviser Richard Asquith and business coach Peter Wilkinson.

They were judged on the quality of their company report, trade stand and pitch presentation.

Sponsors of the event included, Sunderland Software City, Sabic, Durham Business Club, Darlington Building Society and One North East.

Network event success

It was another great turnout at YENE’s Spring Networking Event, hosted by Dickinson Dees at its Quayside office. Over 40 people from businesses across the region gathered to network with fellow supporters and hear our latest news.

We were delighted to have inspirational guest speaker Juliette Lee present ‘Getting Engaged’, sharing inspirational tips and ideas to motivate and re-energise.

David Wilson gave an update on the newly formed YENE Volunteer Committee and board director David Haley spoke of the upcoming Regional Final, which will be held on Tuesday 15 June at the Gosforth Marriott hotel.

It was also great to see four Young Enterprise alumni amongst our guests, all now in successful careers with three of them running their own business.

Business lessons are out of this world

Last week I taught students aged seven and eight at Mount Pleasant Primary School, in Cockerton, Darlington, about business in the community, government and public finance.

The initiative, run under the auspices of Young Enterprise North East, is designed to help children understand how the adult world of business and finance works – and hopefully inspire them to go on to succeed through their own enterprise.

My lessons, run over five weeks, proved such a success that on the children’s final session I brought along Darlington FC footballer Gary Smith with me to present the youngsters with certificates.

I myself am a former human resources (HR) director and senior executive for some of the UK’s best-known companies, including WH Smith, Asda, Royal Mail, Ventura, Pearl Assurance and DSG International. In 2007, the she was recognised for her achievements in Personnel Today’s HR Director of the Year awards and featured in the publication’s Top 40 Powerful People in HR.

Now I run Strategic Change Solutions, a team of change management experts based in the North-East helping companies manage the changes needed to survive the recession, preserve jobs and flourish in the future.

The world of business may seem completely alien to children of their age, but they soaked up every last drop of knowledge and information I could give them about how, as adults, you get a job, earn money, pay tax, and how the Government spends that tax providing such things as the police, fire and ambulance services.

The sessions involved problem-solving, team work, communication and a strong element of numeracy, and I hope that along the way the children have picked up a few life skills that will serve them well in the future.

In truth, it’s been tremendous fun for me. The children have been full of enthusiasm from the first lesson to the last.

The groups I normally talk to groups consist of seasoned businessmen and women, who probably think they seen and heard it all before, but the only difficulty with the children at Mount Pleasant was keeping a lid on their enthusiasm.

Mount Pleasant teacher Karen Bateman said: “It is important that our children learn about the wider community from a different perspective and the responsibility we all share through our life’s work to make it a different and better world. The children loved every minute of Claire’s lessons. At times, they were as much an eye-opener for me as they were for them.”

Claire Walton, Strategic Change Solutions.

STUDENTS BAG THEMSELVES ENTERPRISE TRADING AWARDS

Students from John Spence Community High School in Tyne and Wear scooped the Overall Winner Award with their company ‘Cookii Doh.

NEWCASTLE students swept the board at the annual Young Enterprise North East (YENE) Trade Fair, where they were awarded by the standard of their business ideas and selling skills.

A record 44 student companies, who have set up their own businesses as part of their Young Enterprise programme set out their stalls at the Metro Centre last weekend to compete in the seven award categories.

The young tycoons all took part in the Young Enterprise Company, Team (special needs) or Graduate programmes, which saw them set up a real trading company, sell their innovative products to the public and learn all about business in the process.

Students from John Spence Community High School in Tyne and Wear scooped the Overall Winner Award with their company ‘Cookii Doh, which designs and prints bespoke t-shirts and badges.

Newcastle University graduates won the Best Graduate Programme category with their business ‘Queen Bee Candles’, - an eco friendly candle making company that also raises money to 'save the bees'.

The Most Creative Company award went to students from Newcastle College who set up ‘Button your Face’ - a company that designs and prints coloured textiles that cover buttons and turns them into jewellery. Students from Newcastle Church High School won the Best use of Sales and Marketing award for their promotion of their business ‘Bright Life Books’.

Northumbria University students won the Best Trade Stand category, ‘Wooden Spoon’ set out their stall with a student cookbook, which includes recipes that take a twist on classic student meals.

Students from Oakleigh Gardens school in Cleadon, South Tyneside scooped the Best Team Programme’ Award with their company, ‘Del Boy Enterprises’, which produces handmade fridge magnets, jewellery, bookmarks and tea lights all for just £1.00.

Taking an award for south of the Tyne was students from Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough, who won the Best Product award for their business ‘Elftopia’, which has designed a children's game to encourage healthy eating and lifestyle.

The companies were judged on their business models on the day by members of the local business community including, ONE North East’s Enterprise Specialist Adviser Angela Craggs, Kristina Henry from the Home Group and Peter Wagstaff at Coutts banking.

Speaking of the event, chief executive of Young Enterprise North East Catherine Marchant said: “The Young Enterprise Trade Fair is always a day I always look forward to. It is just lovely to see the student’s businesses come to life and see how their entrepreneurial spirit really does shine when they leave the classroom and sell to the public in a real shopping mall.

“All of the students were great contenders and it was a real achievement for them to make it to the Trade Fair to learn about selling in a real trading world.

“Overall the judges were impressed with the high standard achieved from all schools and colleges involved and we want to again thank everyone involved for the support Young Enterprise has received from local schools and businesses.”

Judge Angela Craggs said: “The Young Enterprise North East Trade Fair at the Metro Centre was a great day and all of the young people were truly inspirational.”

BUSINESS CHIEFS URGED TO JOIN ENTERPRISE 2020 VISION

Students from Richardson Dees Primary School in Wallsend launched the Young Enterprise North East 2020 Vision campaign. (Left to right) Back row: YENE chief executive Catherine Marchant. Middle row: Carrie Donley, Zoe Tucker, Tabbitha Garratt. Bottom row: Ben Edgar and Ife Akinropo.

STUDENTS from across the region have helped employers to ‘see clearly,’ by launching Young Enterprise North East’s (YENE) new ‘2020 Vision’ appeal donning giant sunglasses in the shape of ‘2020’.

The 2020 Vision is YENE’s latest call-to-action that aims to gain longer-term commitment from the business and education audience, which will offer the charity more sustainability as it now looks beyond the recession.

Students from Richardson Dees Primary School in Wallsend launched the campaign alongside YENE’s chief executive Catherine Marchant by wearing 2020 glasses. All students from the school have participated in some kind of Young Enterprise activity.

YENE chief executive Catherine Marchant said: “As the region looks beyond the recession, it is the next decade that will shape our economic success – innovation entrepreneurship and leadership will need to be at the forefront of business activity over the next 10 years. But our future leaders in the next 10 years are at school right now.

“As the region’s longest standing enterprise education provider, we now need to reach the education, business and youth audiences to inspire them to work together to be a stronger region by 2020 and we all need to see clearly the benefits of working together, which we will set out to show.”

YENE is now seeking to forge long-term relationships between businesses and schools working together to ensure a strong and thriving local economy in ten year’s time.

YENE hopes that the campaign will equip young people that are still at school now to have enterprising attitudes and work based skills for when they leave education and enter the working world within the next decade.

“By longer term business commitment we mean anything from implementing YENE volunteering programmes into a CSR plan, designating us as a chosen charity for the next 10 years or actually adopting a local school in your area – the benefits are massive, as these young people are indeed future workforces,” Catherine added.

As well as encouraging businesses to see why enterprise in schools is vital to the future of their business, the campaign aims to encourage more schools and teachers in the region to run YENE’s range of enterprise education programmes, and it will highlight to young people that enterprise is a cool and exciting career option.

Representatives from the business community that have already showed their long-term support to the cause include Procter and Gamble, which has supported YENE for 15 years, Dickinson Dees who has provided volunteers for the last six years and Accenture, who has just received the ‘Extreme Partner Award’ by Junior Achievement, the worldwide movement of which Young Enterprise is a member nation.

Regional Development Agency One NorthEast is supporting the campaign. Head of Business, Enterprise and Skills, Tim Pain said: “We share many of the priorities identified by Young Enterprise North East and are fully behind this vision.

“Inspiring the innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow, and providing conditions in which they can thrive, will create the new businesses and new jobs that will help our regional economy grow in a way that is both dynamic and sustainable.”

CBI North East regional director Sarah Green said: “Now more than ever is a critical time for young people to become involved in business. The CBI is working constantly to forge stronger links between business, schools, colleges and universities, and we recognise the need to nurture the commercial potential shown by our school and university leavers. By encouraging the development of talent and offering support and guidance, Young Enterprise North East is providing a springboard for the schoolchildren of today to become the business leaders of tomorrow.

The 2020 Vision programme will be of fundamental importance in stimulating interest in business among our young people, and in doing so, will help shape the economic success of our region in the years to come.”

For more information on Young Enterprise North East and its 2020 Vision visit: www.young-enterprise.org.uk.