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. “