Young Enterprise Scheme Finalists Announced

MEDIA RELEASE 9 October 2002

[Details of finalist's products and service attached]

YOUNG ENTERPRISE SCHEME FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Eighteen companies formed by young entrepreneurs from schools throughout New Zealand will venture to Wellington at the end of October to compete for the title of the 2002 Lion Foundation Company of the Year and take part in a Product Expo.

The finalists, announced yesterday, are part of the 2002 Young Enterprise Scheme (YES), administered by Enterprise New Zealand Trust (ENZT) to promote young entrepreneurs in schools. Under the scheme, secondary school students form their own companies and market their product or service as a way of teaching students valuable business skills, the risks involved in starting a company and the importance of a "can-do" attitude.

The eighteen finalists have been chosen from 256 teams (158 schools) that entered this year. The finalists this year are: Columba College, Gisborne Girl's High School, Golden Bay High School, Hamilton Boys High School, Hutt International Boys School, Iona College, James Hargest High School, Kamo High School, King's College, Marlborough Girls' College, Nga Tawa School, Rangi Ruru Girls' College, Solway College, St Cuthbert's College, Tauranga Boys' College, Wanganui Collegiate School and Whakatane High School. The New Plymouth finalist is to be announced later this month.

The winners of this year's scheme are being announced at the 2002 Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme National Awards at the Michael Fowler Centre on 30 October, 3-5pm. Attended by the Governor General, Dame Silvia Cartwright, the Awards will recognize the development and the achievements of the companies. Their products and services will be on display at a Product Expo earlier in the day. Both the Awards and the Product Expo are open to the public.

The best company overall wins the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme Company of the Year Award, with a prize of $5,000 to be spent on a school project.

Teams taking part in the national awards were required to submit an annual report, present seminars and oral presentations and conduct trade fairs to test their products with the public.

ENZT Executive Director, Ken Baker says the scheme has been running for over 20 years and each year we are excited by the range of innovative products and services produced. The scheme has always been supported by the wider community and I would encourage all to come and support the Awards and Expo. The Product Expo is well worth a visit.

Enterprise New Zealand is a charitable Trust and its mission is to promote enterprise education, economic and financial literacy and business understanding, and the development of a "can do" attitude in cooperation with New Zealand businesses.

ENDS

LIST OF FINALIST’S PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

8 October 2002

- Columba College (Dunedin)

“Kotahitanga Visions” - Maori well being kit

- Gisborne Girl's High School (Gisborne)

“Luminous Promenade” - Ball planners

- Golden Bay High School (Nelson)

“Golden Sites” - Playing cards

- Hamilton Boys' High School (Hamilton)

“SpiderWeb” - Cellphone Accessories

- Hutt International Boys' School (Wellington)

“Limbo” - Hair wax

- Iona College (Hawkes Bay)

“Bacchus Enterprise” - Seasonal food and wine guide

- James Hargest High School (Invercargill)

“US (Unforgettable Southland)” - Album of Southland memories

- Kamo High School (Whangarei)

“Dot.com” - Youth website

- King's College (Auckland)

“Ice 3” - Wine cooler bag

- Marlborough Girls' College (Blenheim)

“d’Agora” - “Flatters Guide to Life’ book

- Nga Tawa School (Marton)

“HOTSTUFF” - Scarves (wheat inserted)

- Rangi Ruru Girls' School (Christchurch)

“Zaplutus” - P.R Cards

- Solway College (Masterton)

“Forget-Me-Not-Fotoz” - Funky Fun Photos

- St Cuthbert's College (Auckland)

“Zenith Games” - Take Two board game

- Tauranga Boys' College (Tauranga)

“K.I.K It!” - Merchandise for Sticky T.V

- Wanganui Collegiate School (Wanganui)

“BTM’s” - Leaver’s Jersey’s

- Whakatane High School (Whakatane)

“Urban Designer Glassware” - Designer glasses

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