COMPANY PROGRAMME JOINS FORCES WITH UNIVERSITY OF WEST OF SCOTLAND VOLUNTEERS
The Company Programme
The Young Enterprise Scotland (YE Scotland) Company Programme is an SCQF level 6 programme which was credit rated for the SCQF by Glasgow Kelvin College in 2019. Since the programme has been credit rated, over 800 pupils in Scotland have been certificated.
At the CDN Awards in December 2021 Glasgow Kelvin College won the Innovation Award for its development and continuing support of the Company Programme. The college has helped YE Scotland to extend its reach by enabling students to use the college virtual learning platform allowing school and college staff to support and assess students in a learner focused, accessible manner.
The Company Programme provides a real-life learning opportunity that introduces young people aged 15-19 to the realities of the world of work. This is the same SCQF level as a Scottish Higher and demonstrates a young person’s ability to work at this level in an innovative and enterprising manner, whilst attracting UCAS tariff points that can be used to progress into further learning.
What do the Young People Do?
Young people work in teams to set up and run their own Young Enterprise student company under the guidance of a Business Volunteer. Candidates decide on the company name and manage company finances as well as selling to the public through pop up shops and an e-commerce platform Trading Station.
UWS in partnership with YE Scotland
At the start of session 2021/22, staff from YE Scotland and UWS met to discuss a pilot scheme to recruit students from its Business programmes to act as mentors to the young people. This has been promoted widely and is seen as an opportunity to develop students through supporting their communities. The University offered this opportunity to Business students studying at SCQF levels 7 - 10 and Dr Robert Crammond, Senior lecturer in Enterprise from UWS said:
"The School of Business and Creative Industries, and its Enterprise Team at the University, are proud to continue its partnership with YE Scotland, as we continue to further emphasise the importance of enterprise and entrepreneurship within education. This initiative, where university students mentor those within high school education, is a great opportunity for mentors and pupils to engage with enterprise and gain valuable experience as they encourage others through an entrepreneurial journey. Mentors on this programme look to evidence key skills related to entrepreneurship and in providing business support, as well as develop leadership and managerial attributes. Working with YE Scotland in this mentoring programme is another example of enterprise in action, and we look forward to seeing more UWS students getting involved!"
Volunteering for YE Scotland
UWS student Rachel Marner is a Business Volunteer in St Columba’s High School in Gourock, an SCQF Ambassador School, and was a previous Company Programme participant herself.
Tracy Reilly, the Developing Young Workforce (DYW) Coordinator at St Columba's High School said:
“Having Rachel available to speak with the team was a real privilege as she could relate to all the ups and downs the team were experiencing. Rachel had a wealth of knowledge and used her own experience to assist the team with all their questions and challenges they faced.”
Rachel thoroughly enjoyed her experience and hopes to be able to help again next year! Here is what she said:
“Having the opportunity to be partnered with a local school as their Business Volunteer has been great. I have thoroughly enjoyed taking my knowledge from when I participated in the Programme myself in 2018/2019 and also what I have learned so far in my Business degree and using it to help the young people in the team. The pupils are enthusiastic and have great ideas so it has been great to learn from them as well! This opportunity has also helped my confidence as it’s an area I struggle with and going in to the school to talk to the pupils and giving them business advice has allowed me to grow my confidence. If I was given this same opportunity next year, I will absolutely take it as I have enjoyed this new experience and feel it will also help grow the skills I will need for after I have finished my degree.”
If you would like to become a Business Volunteer please email: volunteer@yes.org.uk
If your School would like to take part in the Company Programme email: companyprogramme@yes.org.uk
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