Auckland students clean up at national business awards

Auckland secondary schools dominated the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) national awards in Wellington last night winning six top awards.

Twenty-three teams from around New Zealand competed at the national competition with Macleans College’s PLUS student company winning two awards; the supreme Company of the Year title and the Edge Mediaworks Award for Excellence in Communications. St Cuthbert’s College’s Le Lunch team finished third and three other teams from across Auckland won excellence awards.

PLUS impressed the judges with its eco-friendly, all-natural soaps made from used coffee beans, and Le Lunch dazzled with its reusable roll up lunch bags.

The YES programme encourages year 12 and 13 students to embrace innovation and business by forming a legal company to produce and sell real-life goods and services.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) runs the programme in north, central and south Auckland and is thrilled with last night’s result.

“Throughout the year the PLUS team has impressed us with its enthusiasm and eagerness to learn about business. It’s wonderful that the hard work has paid off by claiming this national title and we are delighted for Macleans College, the winning students and the other Auckland teams who have done so well,” says Yvette Hellyer, ATEED’s Manager, Business Development – South.

“These students not only learned essential skills, but have proven they can successfully launch and run an innovative and sustainable business. This can only have substantial benefits for them as individuals and the future of Auckland’s business community.”

Student YES companies from 21 regions were represented at the national awards in Wellington, each qualifying for the competition by winning their own regional competition.

Auckland award winners

Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme Company of the Year (first place)
Winner: PLUS, Macleans College

Todd Corporation Award for Young Enterprise (third place)
Winner: Le Lunch, St Cuthbert’s College

Gallagher Group Award for Excellence in Social Enterprise
Winner: KEEP, Westlake Girls’ High School

Excellence in Enterprising Technology
Winner: i3dee, Westlake Boys’ High School

The Edge Mediaworks Award for Excellence in Communications
Winner: Plus, Macleans College

Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Excellence in Pacifika Business
Winner: Social Marketing Team (SMT), Auckland Seventh Day Adventist High School

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