Geoff Leask on the success of Young Enterprise Scotland's Company Programme

Young Enterprise Scotland (YES) is a registered charity that has been working to inspire and equip young people to learn and succeed through enterprise in Scotland for over twenty-five years.

Every year we support around 15,000 young people, from all backgrounds, to develop their business knowledge, entrepreneurial skills and ultimately become more employable. We are a licensee of Young Enterprise (YE) which is the UK wide charity.

We are supported by over 600 volunteers from the business community across Scotland to help us deliver our vision for Scotland to be a nation where all young people have the opportunity to have a rewarding future in work and life – no matter where they start their journey.

Our YES Company Programme is the longest standing and most well known in the stable of support we offer.

It’s so important that enterprise education is recognised in this way

Geoff Leask

It provides a real-life learning opportunity introducing young people to the realities of the world of work.

Young people set up and run their own student company, making all decisions about their business; from the company name and product to managing the company finances. They sell to the public with pop up shops at YE Trade Fairs and on YE Market Place, a dedicated online sales platform.

Participants gain the practical business experience, adaptability, entrepreneurial mindset and employability skills needed to secure successful futures. In preparing the workforce of the future we nurture and develop adaptability, an entrepreneurial mindset, and employability skills.

As chief executive, I know YES programmes make a difference and have changed people’s perceptions about their skills, ambitions and confidence while firing their desire to progress within life and work in their communities.

The programme is now going through a significant, enhancing transformation for the young people participating and schools overall.

Through a jointly-funded collaboration between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership (SCQFP), the Young Enterprise Company Programme will now be credit rated. SCQF credit rating is the formal process undertaken for qualifications and learning programmes to be included on the SCQF – Scotland’s lifelong learning framework.

This credit rating is a much welcomed game changer for YES!

Our programme is aimed at everyone in S5 and S6 and is accessible to young people who perhaps aren’t likely to gain traditional, academic qualifications.

It’s so important that enterprise education is recognised in this way. Not every young person will attain academic qualifications so it’s vital that their ability across different subjects is recognised and rewarded.

The programme supports learning the application of practical skills and provides interesting and relevant content to include in applications to education and training providers and future employers.

As young people progress over the next year they will be awarded qualifications from participating in the company programme.

I am delighted that Young Enterprise Scotland can now contribute formally to young people gaining qualifications which will give them enhanced recognition and improved life chances from their learning by doing experiences.

Geoff Leask is chief executive of Young Enterprise Scotland.