The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) encourages senior secondary students to develop confidence and skills in enterprise through running their own company for the school year.

For the past four years, Te Puni Kōkiri has sponsored the Young Enterprise Scheme’s award for Māori Business. Last year Ngata College’s Awhina Mokai company won for their pets' first aid kit.

To be eligible for this category, the majority of company directors must be Māori or the business must have a distinctly Māori kaupapa.

In 2009, Te Puni Kōkiri provided a stand at Atamira – Māori in the City event and supported Māori teams from Northland and Auckland schools to attend.

Three Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Māori companies showcased their business enterprises and spoke at the innovation summit that ran during Atamira.

Most recently, staff from Te Puni Kōkiri’s Māori Business Facilitation Service (MBFS) met students participating in the Young Enterprise Trust’s Enterprising Food Technology programme.

Students and MBFS staff took part in a site visit to MOJO coffee’s new roaster and HQ at Shed 13 on Wellington’s waterfront.

The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme, with The Lion Foundation as principal supporter, is administered in New Zealand by the Enterprise New Zealand Trust. The scheme is a learning experience for young people, teachers and business people where senior secondary school students form a company; become directors; develop products and services, which they market and sell. Yes is school based and teaches skills in budgeting, planning, interpersonal relations, decision making, reporting, communications; risk management and teamwork.

For more information about the Young Enterprise Scheme programme, visit www.enzt.co.nz .