Young Enterprise

Ken Stimpson Community School runs a Young Enterprise scheme focused on giving students in Year 10 and Post 16 experience in setting up, running and winding up a company.

Any student in year 10 and Post 16 can take part in the Young Enterprise scheme. Students are given the opportunity to set up a business under the guidance of an external advisor from a local business and our Business Studies teachers, who have a very strong corporate background. Students will be exploring all aspects of setting up a business including:

  • Finding shareholders
  • Opening bank accounts (Young Enterprise is supported by HSBC)
  • Appointing a board of directors, managing director, finance and personnel managers
  • Hiring and firing staff 
  • Deciding what their product will be
  • Marketing the business
  • Planning and running events
  • Reviewing business progress

Each of the Young Enterprise companies has a regular meeting to discuss their progress and plan their next activity.  Each of the companies is answerable to their shareholders and must provide regular reports detailing the company’s progress or lack thereof, with an explanation why and how things could be improved.

At the end of the academic year, when the companies are wound up, students decide on how profits will be split amongst themselves depending on their position within the company and how well they have contributed to the business. Young Enterprise arranges competitions with awards for the best run companies and for those individuals most successful in their roles. Young Enterprise schemes come with an exam and a Level 2 Young Enterprise qualification that is recognised  by UCAS and industry. Such qualifications add value to documents such as CV’s and UCAS forms.

The Young Enterprise scheme is open to all students (not just those studying Business) and is hard work, but fun and enjoyable.