Get involved - join the Young Enterprise family

Event Volunteer: 

We have so many events throughout the year that could always do with a few extra hands on deck!

• YES Kickstart | Tīmata Days (February - March) 
• BP Business Challenges (February - November)
• Entrepreneurs in Action Weekend (June)
• YES Regional Finals (October)
• YES National Finals (December)

Entrepreneurs in Action Company Mentor:

EIA is an intensive 3-day experience where 80 of our most passionate YES students come to Wellington to compete in two business challenges. As an EIA mentor, you will help the students come together as a team to best utilise their group dynamic. From you, the teams will need guidance through the content of their business case and feedback on their ideas. However, it is important for an EIA mentor to know when to provide direction, and when to stand back from the team's work. 

YES Company Mentor:

A year-long commitment where you will advise, support and guide a YES company. As a mentor, you will engage and challenge the students, and act as a sounding board for their strategies and ideas. 

Industry Expert: 

A shorter time commitment where you are "on-call"  to answer any questions and share insights with YES companies on an ad-hoc basis. If your schedule allows, you may like to make some school visits to lead a session in your area of expertise. While this is less time consuming than a year-long mentor, you are still able to be involved in the students' YES journey. 

Judge: 

Being a judge lets you experience the exceptional ideas that Young Enterprise students come up with. Whether it be at one of our feeder programmes (i.e. BP Business Challenge, Rangatahi Business Challenge or GrowingNZ Innovation Challenge), or with The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme, there's plenty of opportunities to get involved.

What's required?

Judge at a feeder programme Business Challenge:

• 3-hour commitment
• One-off commitment according to schedule
• Opportunities available across the country

Judge at a YES event (pitch competition, EIA, or YES National Final):

• 2-3 hours commitment 
• One-off commitment between February - November
• Opportunities available across the country 

Many people know of our flagship programme, The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme, where senior secondary students form companies and operate a business with real profit and loss.

However, this is just one of the many enterprise and innovation programmes that we run for students to provide authentic and engaging learning experiences to help them leave school better prepared for the real world. Additionally, we offer opportunities for students to develop a global entrepreneurial mindset through international trips and projects.

We love what we do, because we’re equipping today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders, changemakers and disruptors! But we need your support, and every dollar counts.

If you would like to support our vision by donating please visit our Givealittle page

Sponsorship Opportunities:

• YES National Excellence Award

Naming Rights for an industry-specific award: arts and culture; sales and marketing; Māori business; Pasifika business

• Event-Specific

We have sponsorship opportunities for all events: Entrepreneurs in Action; New Zealand Business Hall of Fame; It's Business Time Conference 

• Rangatahi Business Challenge

Sponsor the 3-day challenge as the principal national sponsor or fund a Rangatahi Business Challenge in your region

• Funding for our Facilitated Experiences

Sponsor industry-specific events (e.g. the BP Business Challenge or the Growing NZ Innovation Challenge)

• Regional Sponsorship
• Financial Capability training and resources 

We're always open to hearing new ideas on how you can help us - just get in touch. We'd love to hear from you!