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McIntyre has received a Massey University scholarship and won the trip to Columbia at the Entrepreneurs in Action business competition.

He was the only Southlander at the competition in Wellington recently. Eighty Year 12-13 students involved in the Young Enterprise Scheme from throughout the country were chosen to take part.

They were split into 10 teams for three challenges, which included implementing new technology into a business, a high tech agricultural programme in South America, and business planning.

Not knowing anyone at the competition didn't concern Ben.

"I wasn't out of my comfort zone too much," he said.

"We had to get to know each other [in the team] and find out people's strength ... there was a lot of time management."

A business plan had to be written, a powerpoint presentation to judges made and speaking on video about their strategies were required. McIntyre got two hours' sleep one night as he and his teammates worked into the early hours of the morning.

The work of all students was assessed, with 24 selected for one of three business study trips to Chile, Columbia or Brazil later this year or early in 2019. McIntyre was rapt to hear his named called out.

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