Focus sharpens for Young Enterprise (From Bournemouth Echo)

Focus sharpens for Young Enterprise

8:00pm Wednesday 20th January 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

YOUNG Enterprise companies are continuing to grow and develop in Dorset, refocusing after Christmas and researching their final products.

Innovative products being researched and produced include USB gadgets, concerts, office games, personalised clothing, calendars and books.

Pupils from Avonbourne School in Bournemouth make up four Young Enterprise companies.

One of them, Square 1, is producing a book of recipes. They are collating favourite recipes from pupils and staff and hope to include a competition element for the best collected. Achievers from Rossmore technology college (Outburst) and from Glenmoor School (Infinity) attended a lecture at Bournemouth University about managing their finances and now understand more about their future education options.

The Young Enterprise company at Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester, DECo, has been developing well under the guidance of their volunteer adviser David Drysdale (dm4.biz).

The company's managing director, Joe Ashley, said: “After a slow start, we have now finalised the remaining part of our fundraising strategy and we’ve shortlisted our potential main products and services.

“We’ve also reorganised the operational structure under four separate departments, which we feel will work well for us in the tasks that lie ahead.”

DECo ran a successful concert with a local semi-professional band called Chill and hope to follow this with a bigger concert. Six students from Budmouth Technology College, advised by Matt Walkden, owner of weymouth.co.uk, are rebranding Weymouth with a range of merchandise.

After extensive research the company is hoping to rebrand Weymouth as Weybiza with an aim of attracting more young people to the town.

Over 300 young people across Dorset are taking part in the company programme this year with the support of a team of local business volunteers.

• If you would like to find out how you can get involved and support a company next year, email hannah.towner@yesw.org.uk.