2 March 2021
High school students turned young entrepreneurs
Over 130 Southland – Lakes District high school students are about to launch their own business whilst taking part in The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Trust (YES) this year. Local students represent – Southland Girls’ High School, Aparima College, James Hargest College, Southland Boys’ High School, Mount Aspiring College and Wakatipu High School.
YES is all about helping students unleash their inner entrepreneur, and helping students to be innovative and creative, develop work-ready skills and an entrepreneurial spirit.
The first event of the YES year is KickStart | Timata where students are introduced to YES, have a chance to work in their YES teams to brainstorm some potential business ideas, chat through these ideas with some local business people and learn some top tips about different areas of business.
The ideation part is crucial as the student-led teams learn the process of starting a business, researching their respective industry, developing the product and launching their idea into the market.
The Chamber team are truly grateful for the amount of community, and business support we receive to make KickStart | Timata such a success. Our volunteer Business Speed Coaches for 2021 included:
• Lisa Adams, Southern Institute of Technology
• Louise Evans, COIN South
• Sam Withey, South Port NZ
• Kirsten Hoyle, South Port NZ
• Tanya Hope, Findex NZ
• Mike Sanford and Robbie Fleck, What’s On Invers
• Michelle Grant and Dale Booth, Great South
• Amber Spence, Flintoffs Chartered Accountants
• Leon Hartnett, GreenLight Innovations
• Patrice Spencer-Humm, Haven and Ark
• Kim Forsythe, Malloch McClean
• Lucy Coutts and Carla Forbes, Market South
• Michelle McSoriley and Sheree Carey, Southland Chamber of Commerce
• Heidi Renta, INNOV8HQ
• Jo Learmonth, Wanaka Airport
• Claire Dooney, Leafcutter Business Support
• Mike Borthwick, Landpro
• Pallas Hupe-Cotter, Broadcaster, Writer, Mentor
• Doreen Evans, AWS Legal
• Carmen Blackler, The Workforce Accommodation Network (WAN)
• Steph Bewley, SMB Solutions
• Toni Glover, Kinloch Lodge
• Jenny Grimmett, Down to Earth Planning
• Alan Dickson, Tall Poppy Real Estate
• Rob Hamlin, University of Otago
A big shout out to our YES Southland Regional Partner, Southern Institute of Technology for hosting our Invercargill KickStart. Thanks also to Haven & Ark who offered YES CEO’s the opportunity for professional corporate photos.
Locally, YES is coordinated by the Southland Chamber of Commerce, as part of their focus on business viability, with the support of Regional Partner Southern Institute of Technology (SIT). Other local sponsors include Craigs Design & Print, South Port NZ, Findex New Zealand, What’s On Invers, Coin South, VetSouth, Community Trust South and ILT Foundation.
