BusinessNZ Success
Melville High School hosted the Business NZChallenge from 15-17 June. 50 Melville and 14 Hamilton’sFraser High School students combined togetherin this three day Business experience. Their brief was to develop a hypotheticalproduct and then prepare a business strategy for its development and sale. Thestudents were mixed into groups of 7-8 students. Each group had a CEO who thenappointed a strategic Planner, Operations team, Marketing team and a Financeteam. Together the teams needed to develop a product from conception todelivery in just three days. It was high pressure and high stakes with prizesand “cash” up for grabs at various times. The students all worked hard on product development for the first two days. Onthe third day, they dressed in business attire and prepared to wow the judgeswith their idea and hopefully be the “top dog” in the Business Challenge.
Onthe final day of the programme each team's business ideas, creations went ondisplay and were judged at a business expo. The judges were:
Craig Climo: CEO, Waikato District Health Board whichemploys over 6000 people and manages health provision from the Coromandelthrough to Ruapehu.
Simon Perry: Chairman, of the PerryGroup Limited. PGL are involved in aggregates, metal protection, manufacturing,and property development including dairying.
Sue Moroney: Labour List ( MP) Oppositionspokesperson for Education.
PeterGranville: CharteredAccountant, supervises the finances of 36 schools.
ChristinaDysart: IT ProjectManager and Business Change Manager.
The calibre of thejudges and the quality of their feedback to students ensured that theBusinessNZ Challenge is a rewarding programme of a high standard. Indeedstudents are still buzzing about the opportunity and “reality” of the challenge.We were very fortunate that we have free access to this $6,500 programme forour secondary students. It is deliveredby YoungEnterprise Trust staff, Ewan McLeod and Mary Jensen who have practicalbusiness experience and secondary school management experience.
The winning team was Learn by Light. They created aLearn by Light keyboard. The CEO was Jesse. Team members were Jordan (StrategicPlanning), Teancum, Shivam(Operations/Production) Matthew , Troy (Marketing)Sarah, Milton ( Finance). Sarah and Matthew are fromHamilton’s Fraser High School.
We are very fortunate to be able to participate insuch a worthwhile programme and I acknowledge the sponsors who have made suchan event possible.