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Nationally, nearly 4000 students have taken part nationwide in The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme this year, setting up over 900 companies. The one-year programme gives students an authentic learning experience which connects them with the business community.

The Southland Regional Final on 23 October will take place in front of a small live audience of family, friends, sponsors and supporters. YES Businesses will be pitching their business to a panel of Judges, who will decide who deserves the title of “Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme Southland Company of the Year”.

Chamber of Commerce Southland YES Coordinator Joanne O’Connor says ‘‘The programme inspires young people to discover their potential in business and in life. This is not a school project or a textbook course, students invest real money into their business, product real products or services and deal with profits and losses. It’s an exciting journey for all those involved.”

The judging panel includes:

• Fiona Tyrie (SIT)
• Felicity Soper (South Port NZ Ltd)
• Jackie Flutey (Community Trust Southland)
• Carla Harpur (Westpac)
• Nic Wallis (Craigs Design & Print)
• Kim Forsyth and Judy Goble (Crowe Howarth)
• Pauline Stedman (Front-line Training)
• Courtney Forde (PSS).

Awards to be presented on the day include:

• Award for Enterprising Technology sponsored by Craigs Design & Print
• Award for Environmental Sustainability sponsored by Environment Southland
• Award for Social Enterprise sponsored by South Port NZ Ltd
• Award for Solving a Development Problem sponsored by Westpac
• Award for Innovation sponsored by Crowe Howarth
• Southland Young Enterpiser of the Year sponsored by Community Trust South
• The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme Southland Company of the Year sponsored by Southern Institute of Technology.

The Southland Young Enterprise Company of the Year will represent the region at the national awards in Wellington to vie for the title of The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme Company of the Year. Twenty regional teams from across New Zealand will compete in the national dragons den competition and attend the awards gala dinner. More than $25,000 in prizes will be awarded to student companies at the national dinner.