Company Programme empowers young people to set up and run a student company under the guidance of a volunteer. Students make all the decisions about their business, from deciding on the company name, managing the company finances and selling to the public. Participants gain practical business experience and key skills.

Company Programme develops the financial capability of young people by helping them understand the important role money plays in business and our everyday lives.

With the growth of digital and the increase of artificial intelligence, employers are increasingly looking for people who are innovative, creative and adaptable, and who have the ability to apply these skills and attitudes, irrespective of the role. Company Programme provides the perfect opportunity for young people to develop and evidence these skills in an engaging and challenging way

Students are provided with support and guidance from a volunteer (virtually and in-person where possible)

Company programme can be used to fulfil the skills element of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Learning outcomes

• Gain first-hand experience of the world of work and working as part of a team
• Develop the qualities and skills that employers’ value and be able to evidence examples of these skills
• Explore self-employment and entrepreneurship as possible career pathways
• Be able to provide evidence of valuable experience and skills development for future applications to education, training providers and future employers.

Impact

• 93% of young people have the courage to keep trying when they find learning difficult
• 88% of young people find value in their learning from Company Programme
• 96% of educators felt Company Programme raised young people’s awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses
• 93% of educators felt Company Programme improved young people’s employability skills

Courses Offered

Young Enterprise Company Programme

Syllabus Breakdown

THE 8 STEPS OF COMPANY PROGRAMME Company Programme can be run flexibly from 12 weeks up to a full academic year. Over the course of the programme students complete eight key milestones.

1. Starting up - Meet their volunteer and decide if they will set up a company or a social enterprise
2. Creating the board - Decide the structure of their company, allocate director roles and set up their business current account
3. Generating the idea - Brainstorm and evaluate ideas for their product or service.
4. Business planning - Conduct market research, develop a business plan and start to raise capital.
5. Launching - Launch their products and services
6. Running the enterprise - Start selling their products or services and have opportunities to participate in competitions.
7. Winding up - Host an AGM and decided how to distribute the profits of their company.
8. Next steps and looking back - Develop a personal action plan, update their CV with their skills and join the Young Enterprise Opportunities Hub. By completing an online self-assessment, young people can receive a certificate to evidence the skills they have developed from taking part in Company Programme

Competitions

Student companies will have opportunities to compete in competitions at a local, county, regional and national level, offering a variety of learning development opportunities including public speaking, interview skills and a chance to network with other companies locally, regionally and across the UK.

The first event to take place is usually a local showcase in March or April. Students showcase their student companies at the event. This includes:

• Preparing a report
• An interview with judges
• Delivering a short presentation

Up to two student companies will be selected from each showcase to progress on to the next round of the Company of The Year Competition, moving through a series of competitions at County, Regional, National and ultimately European level.

Throughout the academic year, student companies will also have the opportunity to compete in monthly online competitions with the chance to win prize money to help kickstart their student companies. These are hosted on Instagram.

Volunteers

Our local Young Enterprise Educational Partnerships Manager will introduce you to a volunteer who will support your students with every step of their Company Programme journey.

What is the role of the volunteer?

• To facilitate the experiential learning opportunity
• To provide advice and guidance on setting up and running a student company
• To regularly attend weekly board meetings (face-to-face or remotely)
• To ensure students operate within the necessary legal parameters
• To support students to follow sensible financial management practices
• To support students to prepare for key events such as local sales events and competitions

To support students to reflect on the skills they are developing

Minimum Entry Requirements

Students need to meet our general Sixth Form entry requirements of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above.

Why Study Vocational Courses?

Make a difference - In 2021/22, 10,165 young people from 639 schools, colleges, youth groups and alternative education provisions took part in Company Programme.

• 93% of young people have the courage to keep trying when they find learning difficult
• 88% of young people find value in their learning from Company Programme
• 96% of educators felt Company Programme raised young people’s awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses
• 93% of educators felt Company Programme improved young people’s employability skills

Wider Opportunities

Supporting the curriculum

In 2022/23 almost a third of educators used Company Programme to support the delivery of GCSEs, A-Levels, T Levels and BTECs (or in Scotland, achieving the equivalent of a Scottish Higher), highlighting how it can be embedded and can contribute towards a broad and balanced curriculum. The programme supports Ofsted success by contributing to judgements on the effectiveness of quality of education, leadership, and personal development by preparing students for the next stage of their education, training, or employment.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD

Company Programme can be used by students to fulfil the skills element of the Duke of Edinburgh Award

Financial capability

Company Programme develops the financial capability of young people by helping them understand the important role money plays in business and our everyday lives.

Digital skills

With the growth of digital and the increase of artificial intelligence, employers are increasingly looking for people who are innovative, creative and adaptable, and who have the ability to apply these skills and attitudes, irrespective of the role. Company Programme provides the perfect opportunity for young people to develop and evidence these skills in an engaging and challenging way.

What Can I Do Next?

Higher education courses, apprenticeships or full-time employment in all sectors including (but not limited to);

• Finance
• Sales
• Business
• Marketing
• HR
• Engineering
• Product design
• Law
• Banking